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Genesis of the Conflict
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The
negligence of Darfur became more deliberate as the majority of the
resources were directed towards the Arab population along the Nile up
north, mostly near Khartoum, the capital of The Sudan.
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The
environmental degradation and continued pattern of structural, social,
inequality and underdevelopment resulted in economic hardship.
· Darfur
region of Western Sudan was an independent kingdom established in
the 14th
century until it was annexed to the Sudan in 1916
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The vast majority
of Darfurians identify themselves primarily as African
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As Sudan became increasingly "Arabized", the
Darfurians were intentionally marginalized in their remote and
impoverished region
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Sudanese investment remained primarily east of the
Nile valley leaving the western regions, Darfur in particular, with
scant resources.
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This inequality led to increased sporadic tensions
between the Arabs and Africans since the l980s.
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Failures of the successive governments to stabilize
the region resulted in continuous violence that culminated in an
armed resistance movement beginning with Dawoud Yahya Bolad.
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The overall situation worsened from 1990's-2002.
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In February 2003, the Darfur Liberation Movement was
announced and quickly changed its name to the current Sudan
Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which accused the government of
neglecting Darfur.
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Consequently, the SLA staged a rebellion against the
central government and was initially very successful.
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In reaction, the Sudanese Government quickly armed
Arab militias known as "Janjaweed (devils on horseback)" to crush
the rebellion.
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The Janjaweed empowered and supported by the Sudanese
Government fiercely assumed a scorched earth campaign of violence
that includes the murder, dismemberment and rape of countless
civilians and continues unabated to this day.
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This, together with the Sudanese army's relentless
campaigns of aerial bombardment of Darfurian villages, has caused
one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time.
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Most estimates agree hundreds of thousands of
innocent civilians have been killed in a ruthless campaign of ethnic
cleansing.
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Over 2.5 million others are living in squalid camps
both within Darfur and across the neighboring borders of Chad and
Central Africa Republic.
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Additionally, there are countless refugees worldwide
in pursuit of safety.
The Darfur Peace Agreement
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There was
great hope that the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in Abuja,
Nigeria in May '06, would quell the violence and pave the way for a
lasting peace.
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Only one
of the three rebel factions, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A)
the Mini Minawi faction, signed the agreement with the central
government of Khartoum.
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The other
two movement groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), Abdul
Wahid Nur's faction and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), led by Dr.
Khalil Ibrahaim, refused to accept the agreement citing inadequate
provisions for security, victim's compensation, justice and political
representation (SLM/A) also inadequate protocols on power and wealth
sharing (JEM).
A pattern of government sponsored actions include:
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Supporting
Janjaweed militias in organized attacks against civilians
from the same ethnic groups and the rebel forces, mainly the Fur,
Zaghawa, and Masaalit ethnic groups
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Bombing
civilians from aircraft
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Committing
massive human rights atrocities such as murder, rape, and
persecution based on race, ethnicity, and religion
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Obstructing
international humanitarian access
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Harassing
internally displaced persons
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