Violence in Darfur Sudan Conflicts in Sudan Two

Violence in Darfur, Sudan

Conflicts in Sudan • Two main ethnic groups – black Africans and Arabs • 2 civil wars between north and south over control of government (1956 -72 and 19832005) • Millions of southern Sudanese were killed or displaced

What caused the north-south conflict? • Northern, Islamic Arabs gained control over the central government – Broke the 1972 peace agreement • Oil – Discovered in Sudan in 1960 s – Government controls all oil revenues • Still highly distrustful of each other

Darfur • The Islamist National Islamis Front (NIF) – Party that took over Sudan’s gov. in a coup in 1989 – Controls military and oil • 1980’s Countries that surround Sudan made an agreement with US to limit influence of NIF outside of Sudan • Opposition groups in Darfur rose up against the government – violent uprising

Who is involved in the Darfur conflict? • The Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), also known as SLA • Justice and Equality movement (JEM) • Janjaweed (armed horsemen) are responsible for most of the violence • UN estimates 30+ opposition groups fighting for power and influence

What has happened with this conflict? • 2003 - Initial rebellion - violence spread between rebel forces and Janjaweed – Targeted civilians and villages • Opposition forces forced young boys to join their forces • 2006 -UN estimates 300, 000 killed (violence, starvation, disease) • Violence has spilled across borders into Chad and the CAR • Refugees have fled Sudan, leaving behind family and homes

Response of the International Community • July 2004 – US Congress declared the Sudan conflict a genocide • Sept 2004 – Colin Powell made a public statement declaring Darfur a genocide • 2005 – UN recognized the amount of violence • 2007 – UN sent AU-UN troops to Darfur

Prospects for Peace • Peace negotiations have achieved little • 2008 – President Bashir accused of war crimes and genocide – Case suspended until 2009 • Ongoing investigations, no successful peace talks