Deju vu

—Refugee camps emptied, looted and burned;

—Tutsi vs Hutu tribalism;

—Mass displacement; and

—a so far ineffectual response from both the African Union and the world.

Does all this sound familiar?

If it does, it is because it bears an uncanny resemblance to the Rwandan conflict of the early 1990s.

Are we going to let 2008 go the same way? The answer is simple and clear: No.

So how do we stop it?

We must turn our words into actions. If the African Union cannot manage the situation on its own, those countries who are able to help must by sending aid, peacekeepers and other resources.

We must of course guarantee the safety of our aid workers and must send the first consignment of peacekeepers this weekend to do so. They can then resume their vital work.

Speed is vital in these situations. You can discuss increasing peacekeepers but the discussion about whether or not to send any has passed.

In the immortal words of a famous singer ‘A little less conversation, a little more action’.

Let the western world's Macbethian habit of responding to foreign crises not chalk up another mark on the board.