1. Violence in Darfur, Sudan

2. Conflicts in Sudan Two main ethnic groups – black Africans and Arabs
2 civil wars between north and south over control of government ( and )
Millions of southern Sudanese were killed or displaced

3. What caused the north-south conflict?
Northern, Islamic Arabs gained control over the central government
Broke the 1972 peace agreement
Oil
Discovered in Sudan in 1960s
Government controls all oil revenues
Still highly distrustful of each other

4. Darfur The Islamist National Islamis Front (NIF)
Party that took over Sudan’s gov. in a coup in 1989
Controls military and oil
1980’s Countries that surround Sudan made an agreement with US to limit influence of NIF outside of Sudan
Opposition groups in Darfur rose up against the government – violent uprising

5. Who is involved in the Darfur conflict?
The Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), also known as SLA
Justice and Equality movement (JEM)
Janjaweed (armed horsemen) are responsible for most of the violence
UN estimates 30+ opposition groups fighting for power and influence

6. What has happened with this conflict?
2003- Initial rebellion - violence spread between rebel forces and Janjaweed
Targeted civilians and villages
Opposition forces forced young boys to join their forces
2006-UN estimates 300,000 killed (violence, starvation, disease)
Violence has spilled across borders into Chad and the CAR
Refugees have fled Sudan, leaving behind family and homes

7. Response of the International Community
July 2004 – US Congress declared the Sudan conflict a genocide
Sept 2004 – Colin Powell made a public statement declaring Darfur a genocide
2005 – UN recognized the amount of violence
2007 – UN sent AU-UN troops to Darfur

8. Prospects for Peace Peace negotiations have achieved little
2008 – President Bashir accused of war crimes and genocide
Case suspended until 2009
Ongoing investigations, no successful peace talks