The Crisis in Darfur - Background
Kalma Camp, SUDAN: UN envoy Jan Egeland leaves Kalma Camp in the Darfur region 8 May 2006 as thousands of diplaced Sudanese people demonstrate demanding international protection. JONAH FISHER/AFP/Getty Images
In January 2005, the signing of a peace agreement brought an end to the long term conflict in southern Sudan. In western Sudan, however, there is a different story unfolding. Over the past five years, the conflict in Darfur has deteriorated and spread into eastern Chad and the Central African Republic. The once-promising peace process has all but collapsed. Fighting between rebel groups and the government-backed Janjiwid militia (along with Sudanese government forces) continues unabated.
On July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to send 20,000 troops, 6,000 police and 5,000 civilian personnel to Darfur to supplement the existing AMIS (African Union) mission. Now in the processing of deploying, the hybrid UNAMID will be the biggest peace operation in the world. However, vital resources such as helicopters remain an obstacle to the ability of UNAMID to protect the people of Darfur.
At least two hundred thousand people are dead in the Darfur region alone. Some were killed during armed attacks. Many others died from disease and malnutrition. Thousands of women and girls have been systematically raped. Villages throughout the region have been burned to the ground.
Meanwhile, the impact of the continuing conflict is staggering. More than 90,000 civilians have been killed in fighting. A further 200,000 are dead from malnutrition, disease and other conflict-related causes. Thousands of women and girls have been systematically raped. Villages throughout the region have been burned to the ground. Entire communities have lost their livelihoods.
Over 2.3 million people, including one million children, have either fled their homes or been displaced by the conflict. A further 200,000 people live as refugees on the Chad border or inside Chad. They have been joined by some 140,000 internally displaced Chadians, the victims of cross-border attacks by Janjiwid and similar armed groups within Chad. Both IDP (internally displaced people) and refugee camps are targets for attacks and recruitment of child soldiers.
The border zone is also a flash point for the deteriorating relationship between Chad and Sudan. Both governments accuse each other of supporting their armed opponents. In April 2007, Chadian and Sudanese forces clashed when Chadian soldiers pursued opposition fighters across the border into Darfur. In March 2008, the two governments signed the latest in a series of pacts designed to end cross-border attacks.
Meanwhile, the internal situation within Chad has again become increasingly volatile. On January 31, 2008, armed opposition movements launched a major offensive on N’Djamena. During three days of heavy fighting, hundreds of civilian casualties were reported and thousands of people fled the capital to neighbouring Cameroon. Although initially delayed by the renewed fighting, a European Union led peacekeeping force began deploying in Chad in February 2008.
Humanitarian workers and aid convoys in the Darfur region have increasingly become targets for attacks and looting. Between June 2006 and January 2007, 12 aid workers were killed – more than in the two previous years combined. Some areas of Darfur are now inaccessible due to the security situation.
In March 2005, the United Nations Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. Despite lack of cooperation from the government of Sudan, in May 2007 the Court issued the first two arrest warrants for the current State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmad Harun, and Janjawid leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abdelrahman (also known as Ali Kushayb). They face fifty-one counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, persecution, destruction of property, pillaging, rape, torture, outrages upon personal dignity and other inhumane acts.
It’s time for the international community to follow through on the many promises made to the people of Darfur. Act now
The origin of the conflict
For many years, conflict simmered in the Darfur region with occasional clashes between groups and raids on farm villages.
In February 2003 the situation escalated significantly when a new armed political group, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) composed mainly of members of settled ethnic groups, emerged and attacked government troops. The action was described as a protest at the perceived failure of the government to protect villagers from armed violence and the general underdevelopment and marginalization of the region. A second armed political group with similar aims, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), soon emerged.
Attempts at dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the situation quickly gave way and by the end of March 2003 the Sudanese government decided to respond with concerted military force. Free reign was essentially granted to local militias, the Janjawid, to undertake attacks in the area. The Sudanese air force also indiscriminately bombed townsandvillages.
While the main responsibility for abuses lies with the Janjawid and government forces, both sides to the conflict in Darfur have failed to take basic measures to protect civilians.
Updated: 10 April 2008
