STAND’S SPRING CHAPTER RETREATS - 2009

Darfur, Sudan

Conflict Overview

Conflict statistics:

400,00 dead

2.5 million displaced

Countless villages destroyed

In 2003, rebels attack Government, protesting under-development of Darfur.

Government responds by recruiting militias called Janjaweed to systematically attack the ethnic groups the rebels came from.

A systematic campaign of murder, rape, displacement, and burning of villages is called a genocide by America and condemned internationally,Main targeted ethnic groups:

Fur

Masalit

Zaghawa

A dozen others…

Country and People

Sudan

•Sudan is the largest country in Africa

•It gained independence from the British in 1956

•Sudan has dozens of different ethnic groups

•The north of the country is mostly Arab north African in character, and the South is closer to sub-Saharan Africa

Darfur

•Darfur is the western three states of Sudan

•It bridges the North and South of Sudan

•Darfur has dozens of different ethnic groups, some of which have Arab ancestry and some with African ancestry

•All of Darfur’s population are Muslim, and struggle to survive in harsh conditions

Systematic Marginalization (1956-2005)

•After independence, power and investment was concentrated in the capital of Khartoum, which is in the Arab North

•All other areas of Sudan were neglected, marginalized, and left underdeveloped.

This led to a number of rebellions, including a 40-year civil war between North Sudan and South Sudan The war ended with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.

Darfur is one of the most underdeveloped and marginalized areas in all of Sudan.

Outbreak of the Conflict (2003-2004)

In 2003, demanding development for Darfur, rebels associated with Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa tribes attacked a government base.

The Government responded by

recruiting Janjaweed militias to launch a

counter-offensive on the rebel’s tribal

bases.By 2004, more than 80,000 Darfuris had been killed and more than a million displaced. Darfur was called “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis” and by the end of a year has been labeled a “genocide” by the US government.

Descent into Chaos (2005-today)

In 2006, the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed between the Government and one rebel group, and rejected by two.

After the failure of the DPA, Darfur rebels split into dozens of factions. In 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a joint UN-AU peacekeeping force called UNAMID, which was under-staffed and under-equipped.

From 2007-2008, The International Criminal Court indicted two war crimes suspects, Ali Kushayb and Ahmed Haroun, and moved towards indicting President Omar al-Bashir and three unnamed rebel leaders.

Darfur Today – Key players

The Government of Sudan: Sudan’s ruling government, headed by President Bashir

The Sudanese Armed Forces: the official army of the GoS. Trains, arms and supports the Janjaweed

The Janjaweed: militias from several Darfur tribes of Arab ancestry who were recruited for the counter-insurgency campaign, responsible for the majority of attacks on civilians

The Rebels: militias from several Darfur tribes that have African ancestry, responsible for attacks that sparked current conflict: SLA-AW: faction that rejected the DPA SLA-MM: faction that signed the DPA SLA-AS: faction that broke away after the DPA SLA-Unity: faction that broke away after the DPA SLA-Free Will: faction that broke away after the DPA JEM: faction that rejected the DPA

Darfur Today – Year in Review

January: UNAMID strength at 9,000, out of 26,000 promised. February: intensifications of attacks in West Darfur, return to

scorched-earth policies. April: new UN statistics say 300,000 Darfuris killed due to the

conflict. May: JEM launches an attack on Khartoum, which failed but

caused great distress to the Government, which cracks down on ethnic Zaghawa.

July: ICC Chief Prosecutor asks for the indictment of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir

August: The Government launches an attack on Kalma camp, the largest camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

September: security situation deteriorates significantly with intensifying attacks in North Darfur

December: ICC Chief Prosecutor asks for indictment of three unnamed rebels

Summer 2009: ICC indicted and issued arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir.