The last time the number of deaths in Darfur were counted, the number was 300,000 and growing rapidly. A couple million people were without there families living in refugee camps. Woman and young girls have been raped and murdered, and many kids haven't grown up in a stable home. This was in 2008. Since then it was estimated that another 100,000 people have died. Where did this all start? Why did this start? How could this go so unnoticed by millions of people?
History of Darfur and conflict-
Darfur is the small western region of Sudan that had a population of 8.5 million people. Sudan is the largest country in Africa and has had many problems since its independence in 1956. They have faced civil war with a small 10 year pause. The most recent genocide began in April of 2003. Now it is the light-skinned Arabs against the dark-skinned people in southern and western Sudan. These like-skinned Arabs are the Janjaweed who have been hired by the government to clear out all Darfurians who are dark-skinned. Specifically, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement have been going against the Sudanese Government. The government has always favored the nomadic Arab Sudanese over the non-Arab Sudanese and now finally the people are taking a stand. For many years their has been a power struggle between farmers in Fur, Zaghawa, Massaleet and the nomadic Arabs. After being held back for years, you farmers rebelled against the government. The attacks began in 2003.
What is Happening?
The Janjaweed militia are going through Darfur and raping and murdering everyone in their path. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed since the beginning of this genocide in 2003. The Janjaweed are trying to clear all groups and tribes that have not been loyal to the government in Sudan. There have been massive displacements and hundreds of woman are being raped until infertile. These militia are going through and taking anything they can off their victims that they can keep for themselves. They call it ethnic cleansing. Now there is a lack of resources in these areas and those who are left are dying from disease and malnutrition. It is said that ““3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far.” It is scary for any person to leave their refugee camp to go to the market because they don't know who will attack them, rape them, rob them, beat them, or even kill them. Many people are living in fear that their entire family is dead and soon they will be. Already over 400 villages have been destroyed with all of the residents who are either dead or have fled their homes. The government and Janjaweed have been calling it ethnic cleansing.
The Government and the Janjaweed-
Omar al-Bashir is the current leader in Sudan. He denies bringing in the Janjaweed to complete this genocide. The Janjaweed are a militia group of nomadic tribes who are going into towns, killing thousands of people and their pay is what they can steal. The entire government denies any involvement with the militia even though it is quite evident that they hired the Janjaweed. People wonder why the government hasn't stopped the Janjaweed if they aren't at all linked to each other . “These militias work in unison with government troops, with total impunity for their massive crimes.” It has been seen by many, government troops and the Janjaweed militia in joint operations, killing hundreds of people in Darfur. In one mission, 136 men in Fur were taken by both groups and shot in the back of the neck. There have also been air raids by military planes, quickly followed by flooding militia in many villages. This may have been planned out between the two groups.
Omar al-Bashir-
janjaweed militia in Darfur
Genocide?
It is questioned whether this truly is a genocide or not. It has been denied by their government but the people demand that it does not go unnoticed. People are wondering how rape is a form of genocide when it is possibly one of the worst forms. Many woman are brutally raped. This leaves them infertile and scarred. They are raped so violently and horrifically that some cannot walk for months. This is also a cause of suicide. All their dignity has been taken away and they no longer have any respect for themselves and feel worthless. Also, mixed races are unacceptable. If a woman is impregnated by a Janjaweed soldier, the child is no longer pure to the tribe in which it belongs. This is very important to these murderers. They are trying to wipe out these tribes and have one clean race. Many woman will then kill themselves and their baby out of the lack of respect. These rapes humiliate woman and leave them permanently scarred. Even though it is well-known that the government helped the Janjaweed with weapons and money, they did not mean for rape to be a large form of this genocide. A Human Rights Activist said “I don't think rape was planned by the government. Killing, and looting, and torture, yes, but not rape.” This is not ethnic cleansing, it is genocide.
Who has helped?
Many unions have taken steps to help Darfur. The African Union has sent in a team of 7,000 peace-keeping team. They have gone into Darfur and have made sure that President al-Bashir will not be elected ever again. Going along with stopping Omar al-Bashir from becoming president, the International Criminal Court has put out warrants for his arrest on counts of war crimes, but they can not yet enforce it. They were given permission to look into this from the UN who have helped the growth of the economy in Sudan. They have promoted peaceful talks between tribes and the government in Darfur. The UN has many refugee camps scattered around Sudan and Chad to help the millions of displaced victims. The UN was not supported by the Arab League who “supported al-Bashir's refusal to accept UN troops in 2006.”
