Sudanese GenocideSudanese Genocide2003 - …2003 - …

Basic Facts of DarfurBasic Facts of Darfur

Roughly the size of TexasRoughly the size of Texas

Divided into three statesDivided into three states

Approximately Approximately 6 million people lived in6 million people lived in this this region region beforebefore crisis started in crisis started in 20032003

RaceRace

50% black or African50% black or African

40% Arab40% Arab

10% other10% other

ReligionReligion

70% Sunni Muslim70% Sunni Muslim

5% Christian5% Christian

25% traditional belief 25% traditional belief systemssystems

Main Ethnic Groups in DarfurMain Ethnic Groups in Darfur Fur, Massaleet & Fur, Massaleet &

Zaghawa Zaghawa African farmersAfrican farmers

Nomadic ArabsNomadic Arabs survival travelerssurvival travelers

Centuries of Darfur Land TensionsCenturies of Darfur Land Tensions

Ethic African farmers and nomadic Arabs Ethic African farmers and nomadic Arabs have a conflict of interest when it comes to have a conflict of interest when it comes to land and grazing rights of Darfur. land and grazing rights of Darfur.

Fur, Massaleet & ZaghawaFur, Massaleet & Zaghawa

vs.vs.

Nomadic ArabsNomadic Arabs

Genocide PlayersGenocide Players

1. Sudanese Gov’t1. Sudanese Gov’t

– – Arab system of Arab system of rulerule led by led by OmarOmar

Al-Bashir and a Al-Bashir and a few other elite few other elite membersmembers

- - Supports/ Supports/ enforces an enforces an Islamic Front for Islamic Front for SudanSudan

Islamic FrontIslamic Front

It It supportssupports the maintenance of an the maintenance of an Islamic Islamic state run on shariastate run on sharia and and rejects the concept rejects the concept of a secular stateof a secular state

2. Janjaweed2. JanjaweedDevils on horsebackDevils on horseback

Arab militiaArab militia BanditsBandits Racist Racist

ideologuesideologues Said to be Said to be

backed by the backed by the gov’tgov’t

MotivationMotivation: take : take land & livestockland & livestock

3. Rebels3. Rebels Sudanese African Sudanese African

ethnic groups ethnic groups Members of the 3 Members of the 3

main African ethnic main African ethnic groupsgroups

Some former gov’t Some former gov’t soldierssoldiers

SPLASPLA SSudanese udanese PPeople’s eople’s

LLiberation iberation AArmyrmy

JEMJEM JJustice and ustice and

EEquality quality MMovementovement

Early 15Early 15thth Century to 20 Century to 20thth Century Century Darfur was a Darfur was a

prosperous prosperous independent kingdom independent kingdom for the people of the for the people of the Fur tribeFur tribe

Fur leaders (sultans) Fur leaders (sultans) extended their extended their kingdom southward kingdom southward from the Saharafrom the Sahara

1899 1899

Colonialism put boarders on Sudan’s Colonialism put boarders on Sudan’s diverse geography.diverse geography.

Britain takes the SouthBritain takes the South Egypt takes the NorthEgypt takes the North

Result: Two regions developed unique Result: Two regions developed unique cultural and religious characteristicscultural and religious characteristics

Egyptian NorthEgyptian North

Egyptians encouraged Egyptians encouraged the spread of Islamic the spread of Islamic valuesvalues

British SouthBritish South

The British developed a The British developed a “Southern Policy” to “Southern Policy” to reduce Islam’s reduce Islam’s influence.influence.

They also encouraged They also encouraged Christian missionaries Christian missionaries to work and promote to work and promote the English language.the English language.

19161916 British gov’t British gov’t

extends its control extends its control to include Darfur to include Darfur and the land ruled and the land ruled by the sultansby the sultans

A so-called A so-called “Native “Native Administration” Administration” ((backed by the Britishbacked by the British) ) loosely controlled loosely controlled Darfur at this time.Darfur at this time.

19451945End of WWIIEnd of WWII

British gov’t withdraws from SudanBritish gov’t withdraws from Sudan

North & South are reconnectedNorth & South are reconnected

British give control to northern elitesBritish give control to northern elites they replace British administration in souththey replace British administration in south

People of Darfur & southerners become People of Darfur & southerners become suspicious of any central authority in Khartoumsuspicious of any central authority in Khartoum (capital of Sudan)(capital of Sudan)

1955 1955

Battle lines are drawn just before Sudan’s Battle lines are drawn just before Sudan’s independence was granted on Jan. 1, independence was granted on Jan. 1, 19561956

Christian-Muslim civil war beginsChristian-Muslim civil war begins Sudan’s first civil warSudan’s first civil war

19721972

Peace agreement (Addis Ababa) is signedPeace agreement (Addis Ababa) is signed

19781978 Islamists renege on the peace agreement after a Islamists renege on the peace agreement after a

large oil supply was found in the southlarge oil supply was found in the south

Gov’t steals oil proceeds from the south and Gov’t steals oil proceeds from the south and plans to pipeline oil from the south to the northplans to pipeline oil from the south to the north

19831983 Southerners express their frustration with Southerners express their frustration with

northern soldiers that were stationed in the northern soldiers that were stationed in the southsouth

Jan.- Gov’t gets worried and orders the Jan.- Gov’t gets worried and orders the southern-based battalion to abandon their southern-based battalion to abandon their weapons and redeploy to the northweapons and redeploy to the north

May- Gov’t sends troops to attack insubordinate May- Gov’t sends troops to attack insubordinate troops & the insubordinate troops flee to troops & the insubordinate troops flee to Ethiopia where SPLA is formedEthiopia where SPLA is formed

Sudan People’s Liberation ArmySudan People’s Liberation Army

19831983 Addis Ababa agreement is completely annulled Addis Ababa agreement is completely annulled

by gov’tby gov’t

South is completely under northern gov’t controlSouth is completely under northern gov’t control Arabic is now south’s official languageArabic is now south’s official language ““September Laws” transform Sudan into a Islamic September Laws” transform Sudan into a Islamic

statestate Islamic Sharia Law is reinstated = non-Muslims Islamic Sharia Law is reinstated = non-Muslims

subjected to harsh penaltiessubjected to harsh penalties

Civil War breaks out again Civil War breaks out again

19891989

Both sides (gov’t & SPLA) realize that a Both sides (gov’t & SPLA) realize that a total victory would be nearly impossibletotal victory would be nearly impossible

Rebels (SPLA) take control and put a Rebels (SPLA) take control and put a civilian gov’t into placecivilian gov’t into place

June 30June 30thth Omar al-Bashir takes control Omar al-Bashir takes control after a military coupafter a military coup Reinstates the Islamic LawReinstates the Islamic Law

Islamic Front Islamic Front

Application of Sharia LawApplication of Sharia Law Uses Islamic sloganeeringUses Islamic sloganeering State sponsored brutality State sponsored brutality Systematic hoarding of wealth and power Systematic hoarding of wealth and power

by elites usually in state capitalby elites usually in state capital Endless violent campaign to silence a Endless violent campaign to silence a

deprived and angry population deprived and angry population

1989 - 20031989 - 2003

al-Bashir gov’t al-Bashir gov’t Cracks down on opposition political partiesCracks down on opposition political parties Abolishes parliamentAbolishes parliament Bans opposition political partiesBans opposition political parties Arrests opposition political leadersArrests opposition political leaders Non-Muslims were forced to convertNon-Muslims were forced to convert Clamps down on pressClamps down on press

• Anyone who posed a threat to Islamists faced Anyone who posed a threat to Islamists faced arbitrary detention, torture and/or deatharbitrary detention, torture and/or death

Violence Violence Escalates in Escalates in an Already an Already Tense Tense Region of Region of SudanSudan

Feb. 2003Feb. 2003 Two rebel groups in Two rebel groups in

Darfur attack an Darfur attack an airport (killing 75) as a airport (killing 75) as a protest against years protest against years of neglect and of neglect and suppressionsuppression

2 groups accused the 2 groups accused the gov’t of favoring gov’t of favoring Arabs and oppressing Arabs and oppressing AfricansAfricans

oppress- to burden with cruel or unjust oppress- to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power or power

**

Government’s ResponseGovernment’s Response

Gov’t army strikes down on uprising in Gov’t army strikes down on uprising in the the DarfurDarfur region of Sudan region of Sudan

Most attacks began before dawnMost attacks began before dawn Gov’t dropped crude bombs Gov’t dropped crude bombs on villages as the on villages as the

people sleptpeople slept Then Then gov’t troops and Janjaweed fighters gov’t troops and Janjaweed fighters

sweepsweep into the village for a chaotic aftermath into the village for a chaotic aftermath

According to the Gov’tAccording to the Gov’t Gov’t admits to Gov’t admits to

mobilizing “self-mobilizing “self-defense militias” defense militias” following the rebel following the rebel attacksattacks

Gov’t Gov’t denies an link to denies an link to Arab Janjaweed militia Arab Janjaweed militia who are accused of who are accused of trying to drive out trying to drive out black Africans from black Africans from large strips of landlarge strips of land

What Has Happened to Darfur’s What Has Happened to Darfur’s Civilians?Civilians?

Destruction / TheftDestruction / Theft

ArsonArson Over 400 villages Over 400 villages

have been have been destroyeddestroyed

Poisoning of wellsPoisoning of wells

Looting Looting LivestockLivestock Anything of valueAnything of value

RapeRape Members of the Members of the

Janjaweed Janjaweed militia rape militia rape women and women and adolescent girls.adolescent girls.

The militia often The militia often tells the women tells the women that they will that they will give birth to give birth to Arab children.Arab children.

DisplacementDisplacement Janjaweed drive survivors Janjaweed drive survivors

into the desert.into the desert.

Members of the Fur, Members of the Fur, Massaleet & Zaghawa Massaleet & Zaghawa tribes become refugees tribes become refugees at camps in Darfur and at camps in Darfur and Chad.Chad.

Approximately 2.7 million Approximately 2.7 million people have been people have been displaceddisplaced

DisplacementDisplacement

Living conditions at Living conditions at refugee campsrefugee camps

Sand storms at campSand storms at camp

MurderMurder Gov’t bombs kill Gov’t bombs kill

anyone in the area anyone in the area where they are where they are dropped.dropped.

Janjaweed mainly Janjaweed mainly target men and target men and adolescent boys.adolescent boys.

Approximately Approximately 500,000 people 500,000 people have been killed.have been killed.

March 2004March 2004

UN officers UN officers report that report that systematic systematic killings on killings on villagers are villagers are taking place. taking place.

NEVER AGAIN?NEVER AGAIN?

HistoryHistory 1820 – Sudan conquered by Turkey & 1820 – Sudan conquered by Turkey & EgyptEgypt

1881 – Sudanese people rebel1881 – Sudanese people rebel

1882 – British Invade1882 – British Invade

1885 – Islamic state is founded1885 – Islamic state is founded

1889 – Sudan governed by British-Egyptian rule1889 – Sudan governed by British-Egyptian rule

1955 – Revolt = Christian-Muslim civil war1955 – Revolt = Christian-Muslim civil war

IndependenceIndependence 1956 - Sudan gains independence1956 - Sudan gains independence

1958 - Military coup = civilian gov’t removed1958 - Military coup = civilian gov’t removed

1962 - southern civil war breaks out1962 - southern civil war breaks out

1964 - people of Sudan rebel / national gov’t is 1964 - people of Sudan rebel / national gov’t is formedformed

1969 - Jaafar Numeiri comes to power by a coup1969 - Jaafar Numeiri comes to power by a coup

1972 - Peace Agreement is signed by Numeiri = 1972 - Peace Agreement is signed by Numeiri = southern Sudan is now partly self-governedsouthern Sudan is now partly self-governed

Ingredients for WarIngredients for War 1978 - Large oil findings in southern 1978 - Large oil findings in southern SudanSudan

1983 - Numieri introduces Islamic Sharia law = civil war 1983 - Numieri introduces Islamic Sharia law = civil war with Christian southwith Christian south

1985 - Numieri is overthrown1985 - Numieri is overthrown

1986 - civilian gov’t is made to restore peace1986 - civilian gov’t is made to restore peace

1989 - Al-Bashir and his Islamic Front (NIC) take power1989 - Al-Bashir and his Islamic Front (NIC) take power

US Attack on SudanUS Attack on Sudan

1998-1999 - US assumed WMD 1998-1999 - US assumed WMD

development = missile attackdevelopment = missile attack

2001 - internal struggle in gov’t leads to 2001 - internal struggle in gov’t leads to

arrest of ideological leader who is arrest of ideological leader who is

making peace attempts with SPLA making peace attempts with SPLA

New Hope For PeaceNew Hope For Peace

Jan. 2002 - ceasefire between gov’t and Jan. 2002 - ceasefire between gov’t and SPLA SPLA

Jul. 20, 2002 - gov’t & SPLA sign to end Jul. 20, 2002 - gov’t & SPLA sign to end warwar

Jul. 31, 2002 - gov’t attack SPLA againJul. 31, 2002 - gov’t attack SPLA again

Oct. 2002 - ceasefire confirmed againOct. 2002 - ceasefire confirmed again