Here’s Kevin Knodell with the third installation of his excellent backgrounder on Central Africa. See parts one and two.
In Darfur, there are two main groups: the black African agriculturalists, and the Arab pastoralists. Their relationship has always been complex. Their differing lifestyles and competition over sparse water supplies often put them at ends. However, close proximity, trade, and intermarriage maintained a relative stability and a degree of coexistence.
When Darfuris began rebelling against the Arab dominated government in Khartoum, the Sudanese government saw an opportunity. Khartoum reached out to the Arab tribes of Darfur, offering them money for aid and development, in return for helping Government forces put down the rebellion. This would beginning of the janjaweed militias, infamous bands of Marauders who rode into villages on horseback who took what they wanted and burned the rest. The Sudanese government has denied claims that they finance, train, and arm the janjaweed.
However, British reporters recently gained access to a leader of the militia, who claims not only that he was armed by the Sudanese government, but that the janjaweed are becoming frustrated with the Sudanese government, and even defected briefly. According to some reports, most of the Arabs remain neutral, and are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the current policies in place.
This is just a small part of the larger crisis that has gradually enveloped the region. The rebels in Darfur are sponsored by the Chadian government, while the rebels in Chad are sponsored by Sudan. Both rebel groups frequently cross borders to find sanctuary. Also, reports there have been reports of Janjaweed crossing the border into Chad to pursue Darfuri refugees there. This, added to the Ugandan LRA’s alleged movements in South Sudan and the Central African Republic puts the region in a volatile situation.
This war has caused a catastrophic human toll that continues to rise. Many contend that this is an African problem, and should not distract westerners from bigger threats such as Al Qaeda terrorism, or Iran’s nuclear aspirations. However one must remember that Osama bin Laden’s base of operations from 1992 to 1996 was Khartoum, that bin Laden has called for a jihad against peacekeepers now in the region and that Iran (not China) is the world’s most vocal supporter of Sudan’s policy in Darfur.
The situation on the ground is not yet hopeless. There are many dedicated aid workers, diplomats and soldiers working to protect those at risk and help contain the conflict. However without the support of the international community, these efforts, and the deaths of civilians and peacekeepers really will be in vain.
Update: Seven Darfur peacekeepers were just killed in an attack.
(Photo: Getty)
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Wow, that update is a real downer.