Case Studies

Genesis 3:17-18 Land is polluted as a result of man’s sin

Democratic Republic of Congo Refugees and Genocide Unit 4 Presentation will cover this topic.

Ethiopia, Eritrea War ( )

1993 Eritrea gains independence from Ethiopia after a 30 year guerrilla war and referendum on independence 1993, May Eritrea admitted into UN 1999 Ethiopia launches sporadic border clashes with Eritrea 2000, May 12 Ethiopia invades Eritrea aggravating a situation where 550,000 already live in refugee camps due to previous fighting and 300,000 are affected by a severe drought

UN imposes arms embargo in the hope of stopping the fighting 2000, June 19 both sides agree to end war, request UN peacekeeping force 2000, July 5 UN calls for $34.5 million in humanitarian aid for the 1 million Eritreans displaced because of the war Ethiopia was invited to help the Eritrean government to drive out Islamist rebels in 2007 – failed miserably so far.

Somalia Tribal-civil war ( )

Civil war results in mass starvation and abuse of human rights December UN authorizes US-led military action Purpose: secure delivery of food/medicine, stop civil war Forces come from France, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Italy and Canada as well as US June UN forces proving to be ineffective, fails to stop fighting Fail to capture Aidid

Somalis fighting against UN forces while mass rape, murder, starvation continues Canadian troops brutally kill Somali teenager while under arrest, contrary to peacekeeping objective March 1994 UN troops withdraw from unsolvable quagmire, Somalis appear to not be interested in ending war, rather they attacked the peacekeepers Aidid dies (August, 1996), son takes over his role as war lord, promises to continue war, rejected peace overtures

2000, August 14 Somalis solve their problem themselves, created a legislature from a meeting of 2000 clan elders, religious leaders, business people and peace activists, however widespread clan warfare continues 2002, December despite agreements to the contrary, civil war continues Mass famine once again occurs (the same conditions that led to the crisis in 1992 and the original UN mission), 500,000 people are facing starvation many aid agencies reluctant to help out due to danger and lack of willingness amongst Somalis to maintain peace 2003, January despite four months of talks in Eldoret, Kenya, warlords not close to an agreement, no government, to speak of, exists; country in a state of anarchy

Western Sahara 1970s Spain withdraws from Western Sahara (decolonization), Morocco occupies territory Polisario Front (Western Saharan nationalist) fight for independence 1991, September ceasefire established, UN peacekeepers continue to monitor peace

Sierra Leone civil war

1992 military government takes power to end corruption yet new rulers are responsible for rampages in Freetown (the capital) where they hacked off the limbs of children with machetes, and sexually abuse women and children 1996, March civilian rule returns, multiparty democratic elections held, President Kabbah elected 1997, March a military coup is staged, Major Koroma takes power, Nigeria invades supporting democratically elected Kabbah 1997, October peace restored, Kabbah returned to power, but rebels continue to fight 1999, July 7 Revolutionary United Front (RUF) agrees to ceasefire in exchange for being pardoned for thousands of crimes committed during the conflict; Sankoh (a leading rebel) given government post which allows him to control diamond rich areas

probably 500,000 internally displaced persons result of conflict West African nations formed military force to return stability in country and support Kabbah’s government Human Rights Watch call for same UN attention to these abuses as that given to Kosovo UN involved in demobilization (disarming military) camps and providing for displaced person’s basic needs 1999, December 6,000 strong UN peacekeeping force 2000, January mining activity suspended because it sparks bloodshed (especially diamond mining)

2000, February UN votes to increase mission to 11,000, success questionable since some UN forces are giving up their weapons to the rebels instead of disarming them 2000, May 6 RUF rebels capture hundreds of UN peacekeepers who are unable to defend themselves 2000, May 14 British troops re-establish stability and rescue original peacekeepers 2000, May 30 rebel leader Foday Sankoh to be put on trial for war crimes, taking away previously granted amnesty from 1999 peace agreement UN asked by 16 country Economic Community of West African States to upgrade mission from peacekeeping to peace enforcement

2000, July 6 UN imposes ban on trade of Sierra Leone diamonds 2001, May UN increases strength of mission to 17,500 as fighting in region over the control of diamond production intensifies between governments and rebel forces in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea 2002, May democratic election is held, Kabbah overwhelmingly elected President and his party controls the House of Representatives

South Africa The Rise and Fall of APARTHEIDAPARTHEID

Sudan The Darfur Genocide

Rwanda Peacekeeping and Genocide

A Song for Africa