Stanford breaks with Sudan companies
The University of Stanford, USA has decided to divest from energy companies with Sudanese operations. Under pressure from Students Take Action: Darfur (STAND), a student group, the university will withdraw up to $1 million of investment from Petrochina, ABB Ltd., Sinopec and Tatneft. The decision was taken by Stanford's Board of Trustees three days ago following advice from the university's Special Committee on Investment Responsibility.
The humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan has been ongoing for the last two years. NGOs have frequently blamed the Khartoum government for clandestinely supporting the Janjaweed militia in a campaign of terror against suspected rebels in the Darfur region.
The UN estimates that six million people have been displaced since 2003, half the region's population. Groups such as STAND hope to call the Khartoum government to account by discouraging companies from investing in Sudan.
The Darfur crisis is the latest development in a 30-year civil war that has divided Muslim northern Sudan from the Christian south.
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