United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned that Sudan may be facing a genocide similar to that which occurred in Rwanda in the near future.

Annan stated that "The risk of genocide remains frighteningly real.", and that humanitarian aid is of utmost importance. But in the case that human rights workers are denied access to the hundreds of thousands of needy people in West Sudan; "...the international community must be prepared to take swift and appropriate action. By action in such situations, I mean a continuum of steps which may include military action."

The government of Sudan has rejected the idea that foreign military intervention is required to stabilize the nations problems. "We don't think we need outside military help and we do our best according to the available resources," Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters in Khartoum. "All that we want from the international community is that it helps us with more supplies of humanitarian aid so that we can try and help those in need."

On the other side of the coin, rebel groups in the country have welcomed the idea of foreign intervention. "Yes of course we welcome this. Due to the conditions in Darfur, (sending troops) is the duty and responsibility of the international community because there is a disaster happening there," Abu Bakr Hamid al-Nur of the Justice and Equality Movement told Reuters.

West Sudan isn't the only area afflicted by problems though , the UN estimates that as many as 2 million people have died as a result of civil war between Christians and Muslims in the south of Sudan over the past twenty years.

I think Annan made a good decision in timing with his speech. With the increased awareness of the Rwandan genocide as it reaches its 10th Anniversary, the speech is far more likely to resound with politicians and civilians. The Rwandan anniversary reminds everyone of the terrible results of inaction. It is entirely feasible that in the same way the problems in Somalia contributed to a lack of commitment to Rwanda from Security Council nations, now the problems in Rwanda can have a positive impact by contributing to a strong commitment to save Sudan from a possible genocide.

Could it actually be possible, that we are learning from our mistakes? I guess time will tell.