History of Religious Influence in the Region Nubia

• History of Religious Influence in the Region • Nubia was converted to Christianity in the 6 th Century. • Islam begins to enter the north in the 7 th Century • Islam takes hold in the south in the 15 th Century. • Sudan is the size of the US from the Mississippi River to the east coast

• The British division of the Sudan Ignored Tribal Boundaries, and Religious Differences. • British Withdrawal Favored Arab Sudanese, and set the Stage for Civil War which has lasted for fifty years. • Conflict between Arab Muslims and Black Muslims has led to genocide in Darfur and a refugee crisis. • Janjaweed militia attacked Black Muslims in retaliation for the Black Muslim attacks against the government.

• 2. 5 Million Die in 22 years • 6. 0 Million Displaced • 1987 Intensive destruction of villages in southern Sudan. • Children, girls and women taken as slaves; Lost Boys flee

The Diaspora • Four Million internally displaced • Two Million external refugees

The Lost Boys Survive to Tell the Story • 1987 – Khartoum Government begins major campaign to destroy the South. • Tens of thousands of boys (and some girls), ages 6 -10 flee to Ethiopia. • Thousands die on the way • Settled in refugee camps and begin some level of education

• 1987 – 1992 Ethiopia Refugee Camp • 1991 – Khartoum pays Ethiopia to capture the Lost Boys • The Lost Boys flee back into Sudan • They are pursued and attacked by the Muslim North and eventually flee to Kenya for safety

Video Clip • Click here for a 5 -minute video clip that briefly describes life as a refugee http: //video. nationalgeographic. com/video/p layer/movies/god-grew-tired/from-sudanggtu. html

• There are Thousands of Widows and Orphans who have no clothes or homes to sleep in, or schools to go to… • 90% of Sudan is Illiterate • There are no medical services in most of the villages