AFRICAN CONFLICTS

GENOCIDE

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, political, or

cultural group

THE UNITED NATIONS

Started in 1945 192 current member countries Purpose: to bring all nations of the

world together to work for peace and address international problems

Issues include: poverty, disease, illiteracy, environment, human rights

Each country has one vote

U.N. CRITERIA FOR OF GENOCIDE Both of the following must be present for the UN

to declare genocide: 1.) Mental Element – this means there needs to

be an intent or plan to destroy a group of people

2.) Physical element – any evidence of the following being committed:

1. Killing members of a group2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to a group3. Inflicting conditions of life to bring about the destruction of a

group4. Preventing births in the group5. Forcibly transferring children from one group to another

Punishable forms of the crime of genocide: genocide, conspiracy, incitement, attempt and complicity

SUDAN

SUDAN’S HISTORY Egypt controlled Sudan Great Britain colonized

Egypt also took over Sudan

Independent in 1956 Ethnic power struggles

Arab Africans vs. Black Africans

Dictatorship took control extremist Arab/Muslim

SUDANESE POPULATION Divided into northern and southern region 61% of the population can read Blacks make up 52% and Arabs make up 39%

of the population

North SouthMuslim (70%)Arabs live mostly in the northMajor cities located hereMany factory and urban jobs

Either Christian (5%) or traditional animist religions (25%)Black live mostly in the southMany in South converting to IslamMostly farmers or herders

GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS

President supposed to be elected every 5 years No limit to re-elections

In 1983, Islamic Law became law of land Everyone forced to obey the Laws of Islam,

regardless of religious beliefs Civil war broke out between north (Muslim)

and south (Christian) General Omar Bashir staged a coup

(takeover) and has been in total control for 20 years

Bashir is the leader of a radical Arab Muslim group Goal = entire nation of only Arab Muslims Target Black Christians and Animists

CONFLICTS OVER OIL

Discovered oil in 1978 in southern Sudan

Arab/Muslim north fought Black/Christian south for control

Military government won control of the oil

This keeps the south in poverty Government does not give any profits to

the south

DARFUR Region in the west In 2003, Black Sudanese rebelled

government neglected them In 2004, Government army attacked

to stop rebellion Government hired radical Arab militia

to carry out killings of Darfur villagers Called Janjaweed = “Devil on

Horseback” U.N. declares it genocide

THIS MEANS…

Sudanese government planned out the killings of the Black Africans in their own country

Mass-murder was organized and issued by General Bashir (president)

His intention is to oppress and eliminate non-Arab/Muslim Africans in Sudan

TODAY… Held first elections

in 24 years in Feb. 2010 Gen. Bashir won with

68% of vote 2011 vote

determined Southern Sudan could become an independent nation in July

GENERAL OMAR AL-BASHIR First sitting head of state to ever be indicted

by the International Criminal Court (ICC) 2009

Charged with 5 counts of Crimes Against Humanity (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and

rape) 2 counts of War Crimes

(pillaging and intentionally directing attacks against civilians)

2010 Charged with 3 counts of Genocide

#’s 1, 2, & 3

RWANDA

ETHNIC HISTORY

Region first organized into kingdoms

Hutus and Tutsis were two major tribes

By 1800’s one kingdom dominated the land

Sparked tension between Hutus and Tutsis

Kingdom fell to Germans

COLONIAL HISTORY German colony from 1884-1916 Became Belgian colony in 1919 Belgian government preferred Tutsis

over Hutus Tutsis were minority (15%) Hutus majority (85%) Tutsis given more rights and freedoms

Government required Hutus to carry ID cards Sparked class warfare over the next 75

years

RWANDAN INDEPENDENCE

Became independent nation in 1962 After giving up control, Belgium began

to favor Hutu majority Hutus killed & exiled Tutsis to

neighboring Burundi Hutu President Habyarimana seized

control in 1973 Government began threatening Tutsi

elimination

TENSION BOILS OVER Civil war erupted in 1990

Tutsi refugees invaded attempted to overthrow Hutu government

Hutus believed Tutsis were responsible for all problems

In April 1994, President Habyarimana was assassinated in a plane crash Believed plane shot down by Tutsi rebels

Final straw between two tribes

TUTSI GENOCIDE Approximately 100 days long Estimated 800,000 Tutsi massacred in

villages across Rwanda Hutu military carried out murders Tutsi rebel-group Rwandan Patriotic

Front (RPF) defeated Hutu militia Rwandan government replaced by Tutsi

President Paul Kagame

CRIMINAL CHARGES 1996 Rwandan government held

genocide trials of many government officials 22 were killed for their role in the murders U.N. not supportive of the punishment of

death 1998 U.N. held trials

Found 2 guilty of Crimes Against Humanity Sentenced to life in prison

SOUTH AFRICA & APARTHEID

THE BOERS Dutch were first to settle on the

southern tip of Africa Set up a “rest stop” for passing ships

Turned into Cape Colony Most Dutch settlers were farmers

Boers = farmers

BRITISH VS. DUTCH

1775 – British invade and occupy Cape Colony

For 100 years, these countries fight several wars for control of Cape Colony

1910 – Union of South Africa is formed 1931 – Officially becomes a part of

Great Britain

APARTHEID Apartheid = “Apartness” in Afrikaans Segregated white South Africans from

black South Africans South Africans were classified by race

White Indian (also a colony of Great Britian Coloured (mixed race) Black

APARTHEID LAWS Races separated into

specific geographic locations

87% of land reserved for only 20% of population

White, Indians, & coloured

Created “homelands” for blacks

13% of land divided into 10 homelands

No longer citizens of S. Africa (no vote)

Deemed “guest laborers”

Had to carry a pass

Could not intermarry

Could not employ white person

Black police could not arrest a white person

Could not get a S. Africa passport Had to carry a

passbook from their “homeland”

Could not travel

ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT U.N. declared Apartheid

a crime against humanity

African National Congress (ANC) promoted civil disobedience of unjust laws ANC leader = Nelson

Mandela Sentenced to life in

prison for treason = betraying your country

International Sanctions: World refused to trade

with S. Africa Companies refused to

invest in S. African companies

Banned from Olympics Boycotted tourism to S.

Africa

GOVERNMENT RESISTANCE 1980’s – Only government to have

segregation laws constitutional Attempted to eliminate the opposition

through police & military Concealed activity through censorship

Kept foreigners out Restricted television & newspaper reports

APARTHEID ENDS 1989 – Prime Minister repeals Apartheid

laws 1990 – Apartheid abolished 1992 – vote to amend the constitution

& give equal rights to citizens 1994 – Nelson Mandela elected

president in first multi-racial election President until 1999

UGANDA

COLONIAL HISTORY & INDEPENDENCE Former colony of Great Britain Gained independence in 1962

Debate over whether to be a fully united country or to allow the various kingdoms to have some self-rule

Established a republic form of government Milton Obote elected prime minister Mutesa II appointed as president

Position with not much power

THE RISE OF DICTATORSHIPS 1966 Obote staged a coup

(takeover) which exiles the president Led by his army commander, Idi Amin

Obote introduced a new constitution Abolished all kingdoms Appointed himself as executive

president and prime minister (dictator) Used his military to suppress any

opposition to his newfound power

IDI AMIN 1971, while Obote was

overseas, Amin staged a coup Overthrows Obote Becomes new dictator

Exiles all Asians Targets all tribes other than

his own Estimated 500,000

Ugandans murdered or tortured during his reign

Goal to rid Uganda of all people who are not in his tribe

OVERTHROW OF AMIN 1978 Amin invaded Tanzania Tanzanian military defeat Amin

Obote and small army of exiled Ugandans help

Amin fled to Saudi Arabia Lived there until his death

OBOTE RETURNS Obote is put back in power by another

military coup in 1980 Elections officially place him back as

president During his presidency Obote used

violence to maintain his rule Allows tribes to carry out massacres

against each other Obote finally exiled again in 1985 Replaced by guerilla army leader

Yoweri Museveni

UGANDA TODAY Museveni still in power today as president Under his rule, stability and economic

growth has returned New constitution of 1996 allowed only for

one party to be in control National Resistance Movement All parties, however, are welcome to share ideas

Rights granted in the constitution include: universal suffrage (voting) the secret ballot a free press separation of executive, legislative and judicial

powers

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

COLONIAL HISTORY Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

colonized in 1885 by Belgians Called Congo Free State Under the leadership of King Leopold II

1908 King Leopold gave up control Renamed Belgian Congo

Belgians sought to convert Congolese to their Christian views Had no interest in maintaining native cultures

INDEPENDENCE In late 1950’s, many African colonies asking for

independence Belgians knew they could not hold on to their land much

longer without violence Granted independence in 1960

Became Republic of the Congo Belgians left the country in instability

Tribal leaders left to fight over control No one left with any knowledge of how to run a government

Elections held in 1960 Patrice Lumumba named prime minister Joseph Kasavubu named president

POLITICAL UNREST UNFOLDS Shortly after independence military

revolt against their officers Looted the capital Murdered the Prime Minister

1964-1965 ½ of the country taken hostage by rebels US, European, and Belgian troops sent to

help

MOBUTU SESE SEKO 1965 General Mobutu seized control of

government using military force Declared himself president for 5 years

Reelected in 1970 Renamed the country Zaire

Made all citizens adopt African names Maintained control through the 1980’s

Began using force to eliminate opposition

CONTROVERSY OVER MOBUTU 1990’s brought

scrutiny to Mobutu’s methods of power Accusations of

human rights violations

Accusations of corruption

Embezzlement of government funds

CONGOLESE WARS 1996 Hutu refugees from Rwanda living in Zaire

Sending rebels from these camps to attacks new Tutsi government in Rwanda

Soon joined with Congolese Hutus to attack Congolese Tutsi in DRC Tutsis formed their own militia to defend themselves

Warfare began between these two groups Uganda and Rwanda joined Tutsi militia Began rebellion against Mobutu

MOBUTU OVERTHROWN 1997 Mobutu exiled Replaced by Laurent Kabila

Named himself president Changed country to DRC

Kabila assassinated in 2001 Replaced by his son, Joseph Present-day president of DRC

DRC TODAY Continued instability and fighting Involved in border dispute with Rwanda

Continued attacks between these nations Rebellions

Lack of water Food supply shortages