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While the situation in Darfur is complex, the factors underlying this
humanitarian catastrophe bear a striking similarity to the economic,
ethnic, and political motivations that have contributed to previous
incidents of genocide and “ethnic cleansing” throughout the world.
Geography
Sudan is the largest country in Africa, located in the northeastern part
of the continent. The Darfur region of western Sudan – the states of
North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur - is approximately the size
of Texas. North and West Darfur border Chad on the west, while South
Darfur borders the Central African Republic.
History
Over the past twenty years, drought and the encroachment of the desert
have made water and arable land scarce in Darfur. As a result, the
population of herders (primarily Arab Muslims) have come into increasing
conflict with farmers (primarily black Muslims).
Since Sudan’s independence in the 1950’s, there have been numerous
insurgencies against the central government. In southern Sudan, the
government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A)
signed a Comprehensive Peace Agreement to end a twenty-year-old civil
war on January 9, 2005.
While peace talks moved forward in the south, a rebellion erupted in
Darfur in early 2003 when two loosely allied rebel groups, the Sudan
Liberation Movement/Army (SLA, previously known as the Darfur Liberation
Front) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), attacked government
military installations. At that time, rebels in Darfur, seeking an end
to the region's economic and political marginalization, also took up
arms to protect their communities against an on-going campaign by
government-backed militias recruited among groups of Arab culture in
Darfur and Chad. These "Janjaweed" militias have received government
support to clear civilians from areas considered disloyal.
The Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed are systematically killing
civilians (reportedly targeting the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic
groups) and routinely using rape and other forms of sexual violence as
weapons of terror. Standard procedure is for the Janjaweed to kill all
of the men in a village and rape the women. Millions of people have been
forcibly displaced from their homes because of government and Janjaweed
attacks, and hundreds of thousands have died.
In July 2004, the U.S. Congress unanimously passed a resolution
declaring the situation in Darfur “genocide.” That September, both
Secretary of State Powell and President Bush also used the term genocide
when referring to Darfur.
On January 25, 2005, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry concluded that
Sudanese government forces and the Janjaweed “conducted indiscriminate
attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced
disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual
violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur.”
Although the Commission's report documented clear evidence of
government-orchestrated mass murders of targeted ethnic groups (in other
words, genocide), the Commission held that it did not have sufficient
evidence of government "intent" to commit genocide -- a politically
expedient finding that allowed the UN to avoid an immediate and decisive
response.
Only about half of those who were forced out of their homes are
receiving aid; others are in camps that are not yet served or are,
literally, wandering in the desert. Even those living in camps that
receive international humanitarian aid remain at risk. Food is scarce
and sanitary conditions appalling. The makeshift camps are continued
targets of attacks and forced relocation. People who venture outside the
camps (to search for firewood or other necessities) risk being killed or
raped. Children are dying from malnutrition and diarrhea, and the
current supplies of food, water and medicine are insufficient. Four
million people face the prospect of death if aid is not forthcoming.
While the international community has debated sanctions against the
Khartoum government, the definition of “genocide” and where the
perpetrators of war crimes should stand trial, the situation in Darfur
has deteriorated further. Early in 2006, the Sudanese government stepped
up attacks on civilians. Aid organizations cite deteriorating security;
threat of famine; mounting civilian casualties; the ceasefire in
shambles; the negotiation process at a standstill; the rebel movements
beginning to splinter, and new armed movements appearing in Darfur and
neighboring states. In late Spring, the rainy season will further
restrict humanitarian access to the camps. There is simply no time to
waste!
The Current Situation
In September 2006, the UN passed a resolution that would send 20,000
international peacekeepers to Darfur. However, any deployment is
contingent on the permission of the government of Sudan, which has not
been forthcoming.
Since declaring the situation a genocide, the Bush Administration has
been oddly passive. Recent reports that the US considers Sudan a partner
in the war on terror suggest that the administration weighs this
intelligence information as more valuable than the lives of millions of
people who remain at risk in Darfur.
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Rightsmatter.com Resources on Darfur