War in Darfur (2003-)
The War in Darfur is a major armed onslaught in the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel groups took up arms against the government of Sudan, which they accused of oppressing Darfur's non-Arab population. The government responded to attacks by carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Darfur's non-Arabs. This produced the deaths of tens to hundreds of thousands of civilians and the indictment of Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir for genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
One side of the conflict was composed mainly of Sudanese military and police and the Janjaweed, a Sudanese militia group recruited mostly among Arabized indigenous Africans and a small number of Bedouin of the northern Rizeigat; the majority of other Arab groups in Darfur remained uninvolved. The other side was made up of rebel groups, notably the SLM/A and the JEM, recruited primarily from the non-Arab Muslim Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit ethnic groups. Although the Sudanese government publicly denies that it supported the Janjaweed, evidence supports claims that it provided financial assistance and weapons and coordinated joint attacks, many against civilians.
Estimates of the number of human casualties range up to several hundred thousand dead, from either combat or starvation and disease. Mass displacements and coercive migrations forced millions into refugee camps or across the border, creating a humanitarian crisis. US Secretary of State Colin Powell, described the situation as a genocide or acts of genocide.
The Sudanese government and the JEM signed a ceasefire agreement in February 2010, with a tentative agreement to pursue peace. The JEM has the most to gain from the talks and could see semi-autonomy much like South Sudan. However, talks were disrupted by accusations that the Sudanese army launched raids and air strikes against a village, violating the agreement. The JEM, the largest rebel group in Darfur, vowed to boycott negotiations.
WFP Delivers Food to North Darfur IDP Camps
Taken on: 2014-02-10
Source: UN Photo/Albert González Farran
Darfuri (JEM) Rebels During assault on Khartoum; Sudan, 2008
Taken on: 2013-06-10
Source: Kalou Kaka
UN International Day for Mine Awareness, El Fasher - Sudan, Apr 2013
Taken on: 2013-04-02
Source: UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran/Flickr
Pro-government (Janjaweed) Militia in Darfur, Sudan, March 2013
Taken on: 2013-03-06
Source: Voice of America
UN Peacekeeper at Abu Shouk Refugee Camp in Darfur, Sudan; Sept. 2009
Taken on: 2009-09-11
Source: Sudan Envoy, Flickr
Darfuri Internally Displaced Persons at a Water Tank; Darfur, Sudan, 2007
Taken on: 2007-01-01
Source: Nite Owl, Flickr
President Bush Welcomes Sudanese Rebel Leader to Oval Office; Washington DC, U.S., July 2006
Taken on: 2006-07-25
Source: White House photo by Kimberlee Hewitt.
Sign from 'Save Darfur' rally; New York, U.S.A., April 2006
Taken on: 2006-04-30
Source: Katmere, Flickr
Internally Displaced Persons; Darfur, Sudan, Sept 2005
Taken on: 2005-09-27
Source: Centre for Disease Control and Prevention/Wikipedia
Rwandan Soldiers En-Route to Darfur; Kigali, Rwanda, July 2005
Taken on: 2005-07-17
Source: Staff Sgt. Bradley C. Church/USAF
President Bush addressing the UN about War in Darfur; New York, U.S., Sept 2004
Taken on: 2004-09-21
Source: US Department of State
Children at a Darfur Refugee Camp; Sudan, 2004
Taken on: 2004-06-27
Source: Sean Woo, general counsel to Sen. Brownback, or John Scandling, chief of staff to Rep. Wolf
Ailing Child at Abu Shouk IDP camp; Darfur, Sudan, June 2004
Taken on: 2004-06-27
Source: Sean Woo, general counsel to Sen. Brownback, or John Scandling, chief of staff to Rep. Wolf
