Genocide in Sudan

Since February of 2003, the native African peasant tribes in the western province of Darfur have been under attack from the violent Arab militia know as the Janjaweed. The government in Khartoum has supported the Janjaweed. Although the conflict did not gain attention until several years ago, the conflict has been going on for many years.

There is conflict between the “Muslim” north and the Christian and animist south since the 1950s. There have been ethnic clashes ever since. In 1989 the National Islamic Front took power in a military coup. This led to a feeling of superiority and elitism among the Arab population in Sudan.

In 2003 conflict erupted between black African insurgents and the Khartoum governments Arab militias. In May and June of 2003, the fighting became more intense and the government forces began attacking the civilian population. The Arab militia began bombing villages from air, massacre of civilians by gangs of Janjaweed, and destroying the livelihoods of the African peasants by poising wells, killing cattle, and looting or destroying food sources.

Although the US and Europe tried to get aid to the Darfur population, the Khartoum government wouldn’t not allow it. Although there has been discussion of peace talks and reconciliation, it is yet to happen. It is still unknown how many casualties have occurred due to the conflict, there are predictions as low as 60,000 and as high as 400,000. Over two million people have been displaced due to conflict. Many sudanese have escaped into bordering Chad and the Central African Republic.

Additional Readings:

Sudan's Darfur deal a distant dream

Darfur's Real Death Toll