Mr Chairman, the DA draws the attention of Parliament and South Africa to the continuing silence of the government, and particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs, on the unfolding tragic events in Darfur in Sudan, and wonders precisely why it is that the ANC, which has set itself up as a movement based on morality and respect for human rights, has been almost entirely, if not utterly, silent about a situation which is rapidly reaching genocidal proportions.
The DA also draws attention to unfolding events in the east of Africa, on the horn, where the state of Somalia is rapidly unravelling. There is an intensification of the struggle there against a legitimate government which is supported by our government and much of the African Union, by an insurrectionist, Islamic-based liberation movement which is gaining control of much of the country.
We therefore believe it behoves Parliament, the government and the Department of Foreign Affairs to give urgent attention to and act on these unrelated but equally dangerous and unravelling situations.