About the Genocide in Darfur
From the BBC Darfur News search:
The genocide in Darfur was officially declared a genocide by the United States Government in 2004. Four years later, our government has made no major breakthroughs or attempts to end it. Recently, President Bush signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, but he has not followed through on implementing the bill. He has also failed to support sending UNAMID (the United Nations Assistance Mission In Darfur) to Sudan to protect citizens in danger.
According to a 2006 UN statement, over 400,000 Darfurians have died and 2.5 million more have been displaced from their homes.
In the late 20th century Sudan became aware of a large abundance of oil buried beneath their feet. The soil of Sudan now contained the possibility of making Sudan a very prosperous Country. Naturally, the Sudanese government marketed their black gold to major oil consumers such as Europe, the United States and China, all of whom were more than happy to dip their cups into the black water of the Sudan.
Very quickly the Sudanese government found itself laden with large sums of wealth and they began building. The government improved their cities, their technology and their own way of living. However, this wealth was not shared with the people outside government positions. It is very likely that most people did not even know about Darfur’s newly discovered oil resources but it was impossible for them not to realize that some wealth had been obtained. As cites flourished with their new buildings and hospitals many villages in Darfur continued on without even the simplest of medicines. The injustice of the situation infuriated many Darfurians and caused many to join together in rebel groups.
In February of 2003 three rebel groups called the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) formed and sent a message to their government in Khartoum, forcefully demanding that development resources be shared equally among the many peoples of Sudan. In response to this uprising, the Sudanese government began sending Sudanese military troops into Darfuri villages and attacking both rebels and civilians. For a while the government continued sending their own military to “suppress” the Darfuri people but soon they found another method.
The Janjaweed are a group of Arab peoples hired by the government to attack the many villages in Darfur. Many Janjaweed are more than willing to take the government’s money and weapons; happy to attack and pillage the Darfuri villages; and more than pleased to do what they want with the land and people they have obtained. Though this may be the case with some of the Arab horse riders his is not true for all of them. Some of these government funded groups are friends of Darfuri people or come from neighboring villages. These people have no desire to kill anyone but are blackmailed and bribed by the government to do so.
Friend fighting friend, neighbor fighting neighbor, the conflict in Darfur is complicated but it was born out of the simplest of desires, greed and anger. This conflict is laced between the webs of government, political ties and the ever growing demand for oil. After five years and so many losses, still there is so much that must be done to help.
For further information on the ongoing crisis in Darfur, you can refer to the following:
From the BBC Darfur News search:
- Sudan 'launches attack in Darfur'
"Sudan's government has launched a major offensive against rebel bases in the far north of Darfur, two rebel factions have said." -Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - Sudan's 'sham' justice condemned
"A human rights group has strongly condemned Sudan's special 'anti-terror' courts after eight alleged Darfur rebels were sentenced to death." -Monday, 18 August 2008
The genocide in Darfur was officially declared a genocide by the United States Government in 2004. Four years later, our government has made no major breakthroughs or attempts to end it. Recently, President Bush signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, but he has not followed through on implementing the bill. He has also failed to support sending UNAMID (the United Nations Assistance Mission In Darfur) to Sudan to protect citizens in danger.
According to a 2006 UN statement, over 400,000 Darfurians have died and 2.5 million more have been displaced from their homes.
In the late 20th century Sudan became aware of a large abundance of oil buried beneath their feet. The soil of Sudan now contained the possibility of making Sudan a very prosperous Country. Naturally, the Sudanese government marketed their black gold to major oil consumers such as Europe, the United States and China, all of whom were more than happy to dip their cups into the black water of the Sudan.
Very quickly the Sudanese government found itself laden with large sums of wealth and they began building. The government improved their cities, their technology and their own way of living. However, this wealth was not shared with the people outside government positions. It is very likely that most people did not even know about Darfur’s newly discovered oil resources but it was impossible for them not to realize that some wealth had been obtained. As cites flourished with their new buildings and hospitals many villages in Darfur continued on without even the simplest of medicines. The injustice of the situation infuriated many Darfurians and caused many to join together in rebel groups.
In February of 2003 three rebel groups called the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) formed and sent a message to their government in Khartoum, forcefully demanding that development resources be shared equally among the many peoples of Sudan. In response to this uprising, the Sudanese government began sending Sudanese military troops into Darfuri villages and attacking both rebels and civilians. For a while the government continued sending their own military to “suppress” the Darfuri people but soon they found another method.
The Janjaweed are a group of Arab peoples hired by the government to attack the many villages in Darfur. Many Janjaweed are more than willing to take the government’s money and weapons; happy to attack and pillage the Darfuri villages; and more than pleased to do what they want with the land and people they have obtained. Though this may be the case with some of the Arab horse riders his is not true for all of them. Some of these government funded groups are friends of Darfuri people or come from neighboring villages. These people have no desire to kill anyone but are blackmailed and bribed by the government to do so.
Friend fighting friend, neighbor fighting neighbor, the conflict in Darfur is complicated but it was born out of the simplest of desires, greed and anger. This conflict is laced between the webs of government, political ties and the ever growing demand for oil. After five years and so many losses, still there is so much that must be done to help.
For further information on the ongoing crisis in Darfur, you can refer to the following:
- Wikipedia's bibliography of the Darfur conflict, with a wealth of links to media of all types.
- The BBC's Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict