Finally some relief could be headed to Darfur.
The latest news is that Sudanese government has agreed to allow in a hybrid peace-keeping force made up of the African Union and the United Nations. It seems a good time to review what's happening in this area ravaged by genocide.
First, a background on Sudan
It's important to realize that Sudan has long been a country with civil unrest, with uprisings against the government dating back to the 1950s by groups wanting more of a role in government, to secede or to escape Islamic law. There have been two major civil wars since 1972. A peace accord was brokered in the last war, in 2005, but not before a separate conflict began in Darfur in 2003.
What you need to know about what's happening in Darfur
- Darfur is an area located in the Western region of Sudan, Africa ʼs largest country. The area is about the size of France.
- Much of the area is inhabited by non-Arab Muslims, whereas the Sudanese government is controlled by Arab Muslims. Tension between these groups is at the root of the violence.
- For years the government ignored basic needs of the area, where famine and drought led to a lot of suffering.
- In turn, rebel groups made up of non-Arab Muslims organized against the government, which retaliated by supporting rogue, especially violent militia groups called the Janjaweed, which have been responsible for raping and terrorizing the people in the area for years.
- The conflict has left over 2 million people displaced and an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 dead, escalating into one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.
The United Nations has been working for months to send more troops to Darfur, which Khartoum, the capital of Sudan , has denied until now. The government wants to maintain control of the nation’s borders, which it will do under the agreement.
And while the addition of more peacekeeping troops (up to 19,000) is welcomed as a step in the right direction, African Union troops are under-funded and poorly equipped, which may render them largely useless in such a daunting situation. Let’s hope for the people of Darfur this breakthrough truly can bring some relief. Troops are targeted to arrive in October.
You can help:
Save Darfur
Genocide Intervention
Rock the Vote: The Instant Karma | Save Darfur Campaign
