Sudan, Africa’s largest geographical country, owes its existence as one unit to colonial history. Sudan is divided by religion (70% Muslim, 25% animist, 5% Christian); ethnicity (African- and Arab-descended Sudanese); and tribe and economic activity (nomadic and sedentary cultures).
The country has been in near constant conflict since it became independent in 1956. The most significant conflict has been that between north and south, with the first civil war lasting from 1956-1972, and the second civil war from 1983-2005.
The Conflict in Darfur
The Darfur conflict became the latest chapter in Sudan's civil wars when rebels from the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) took arms against the government in February 2003 after years of political, economic and social marginalisation.
These rebels are made up of predominantly African sedentary tribes, such as the Fur, Zaghawa and Massaleit. After a string of rebel attacks in the spring of 2003, the Sudanese government responded to the rebellion by arming Arab "Janjaweed" militia to clear civilian population bases of African tribes thought to be supporting the rebellion.
Violence and broken ceasefires continued throughout 2004 and 2005 despite intermittent peace talks and the presence of an African Union protection force. Divisions within the rebel groups exacerbated the conflict and hindered negotiations.
Approximately 2.5 million civilians have been displaced and at least 200,000 are dead -- probably substantially more. Humanitarian aid has been disrupted due to the security situation. In March 2005, the UN Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court for investigation, but the Sudanese government continues to reject the ICC’s involvement. The ICC recently handed down two indictments against a government official and a Janjaweed leader.
The Current Situation
In the absence of tough punitive measures in support of a new peace agreement and the deployment of a more robust international civilian protection force, the outlook for Darfur remains bleak.
The last month has seen continued violence against civilians, mounting displacement in Darfur and neighboring Chad, and increased attacks against the African Union peacekeepers in the region.
The Khartoum government continues to renege on previous promises to accept the joint United Nations/African Union “hybrid” force supported by the international community. It did accept an interim step that would allow a few thousand UN troops to deploy in support of the AU mission, but this falls far short of what is needed in Darfur.
China continues to back the genocidal regime in Khartoum by providing oil money and arms to Sudan and by blocking action against Sudan at the UN Security Council.
