Located in western region of Sudan 2 groups:  Africans = Farmers and Arabs = Herders Competition over land and having a say in the government 1980s – drought so the competition intensifies

civil wars raged on and off between north and south Fighting over:  Forced practice of Islamic law  Oil fields located in central and southern regions and controlled by the government

1989- Omar al- Bashir stages a coup and takes over Favors the Arabs Does not give Africans political representation or share of resources

2 groups resist new government  Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM or SLA) Govt. responds by supplying Janjaweed with weapons

The Janjaweed systematically destroy villages, rape women, and kill the black Africans of the Darfur region. 400,000 killed and 2.5 million displaced Govt. expelled aid agencies

US declared the situation a genocide. President Bush allocated $1 billion for humanitarian aid. President Obama created an envoy to send to Sudan. The UN sent over 15,000 personnel ICC issued arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity

End of the Genocide? Ceasefire signed in million Darfuris still internally displaced  4.7 million Darfuris rely on humanitarian aid Violence has spilled over into neighboring countries: Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan As a result of a peace agreement signed to end the civil war in, the people of South Sudan voted to secede from Sudan. New nation of South Sudan created  Sudan lost access to profitable oil fields and GDP went down  Increased pressure in Sudan to find money  Competition for gold mines in Darfur increased

American Media (2004) Michael Jackson1,300 minutes Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes312 minutes Martha Stewart130 minutes Runaway Bride485 segments (about 5 minutes each) Darfur = 26 minutes in 125 segments

Darfur Activity Military Advisor Middle Class Citizen Business Owner Human Rights Activist With your group complete the worksheet American Intervention in Sudan. How would your group feel about the American government taking the different stances on Darfur. Be sure to tell why they would feel that way.

What You Can Do 1. Ask a senator or congressman to take action through mailing a letter or making a phone call. 2. Donate money to a humanitarian organization such as Save Darfur 3. Join Darfur based organization such as the Save Darfur coalition, a Facebook group, or RV START Club

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