There is an urge now, on a social as well as political level, to settle the Darfur question lest it eventually goes down the same route as the South. But the question here is whether Darfur can actually be compared at all with the South; is separation even an option for ending the conflict?

Whilst the existence of an effective central government does not ensure the avoidance of famine, the regions of Somaliland and Puntland both have more pervasive governance structures than the rest of Somalia, and have avoided ‘Famine/Catastrophe’ status through distribution of reserves and enabling a secure environment for international agencies.

NGOs have been voicing concerns that the military have intruded into their domain by conducting short term aid work and long term ‘hearts and minds’ projects that have blurred the lines between aid workers and military troops. This has had worrying consequences for humanitarianism.

The problem with R2P is precisely that which rendered “Never Again!” and the Genocide Convention impotent, namely that its enforcement is conditional on the support of the permanent five members of the Security Council. Only the very naive imagine that the P5 honour Article 24.1 of the Charter and act on behalf of UN member states; each state’s respective national interest determines their position.

Evoking the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, Anna Hazare’s anti-graft campaign has personified a core national concern in India against endemic corruption and its consequences. However, the potency of the anti-corruption movement, although widely acknowledged and supported, has far from clear ramifications.