THE DARFUR CONFLICT

A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

KEY FIGURES…

400,000 people died 2 million have been driven from their homes

TABLE OF CONTENTS…

Geography Background Chronology of facts International response Conclusion

GEOGRAPHY

3 tribes:The FurThe MasalitThe Zaghawa

BACKGROUND…

Inequity between the center of the country (regions along the Nile) and the rest of the country such as Darfur

Environmental disaster Political opportunism Regional geopolitics

BACKGROUND… Early 15th century: establishment of a sultanate which

gave Islam the status of « state religion » Conquest by the Turco-Egyptian force expanding along

the Nile defeated by another self-proclaimed state called

« Mahdi » Mahdist state collapsed under the onslaught of the

British force: creation of a British-Egyptian condominium Autonomy of Darfur until 1916: incorporation to Sudan Nile valley received the bulk of British investment Arab-African dichotomy

BACKGROUND…

Interactions between Sudan, Lybia and Chad Establishment of Darfur as a rear base (decided by Sudanese preseident)

1983-84: famine

Civil war

BACKGROUND… In 2003:

•Government

•Janjaweed Militia

(the leader is the former officer of the Sudanese army)

•Justice Equality Movement (JEM) associated with the Fur, Masalit and a clan of Zaghawa

•Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) associated with another clan of Zaghawa

Sudanese armies bombed the villages of Darfur

CHRONOLOGY OF FACTS…

April 2004: ceasefire declared between the Sudanese government and JEM and SLMKofi ANAN: « the risk of genocide is frighteningly real in Darfur

May 2006: agreement signed by the Sudanese governement and the faction of the SLA (Sudan Liberation Army=the military branch of the SLM) but rejected by the JEM and a rival faction of the SLA.

CHRONOLOGY OF FACTS…

July-August 2006: fighting started again – Kofi Anan suggested to bring a force of 17,000 international peacekeepers to replace the African Union force of 7,000

Sudan opposed August 24th: UNSC meeting with its plan of sending

10,000 Sudanese soldiers instead ot the proposed 20,000 peacekeeping force but Sudan refused to attend this meeting

CHRONOLOGY OF FACTS…

August 31st: UNSC resolution to send a new peacekeeping force of 20,000

strong opposition of Sudan September 5th: Sudan wants the AU to

leave the region. The AU mandates expires on September 30th but might remain passed the deadline

October-November: deterioration of the situation which extend to Chad and the Central African Republic. Vote for the extension of the UN mission in Sudan until April 30th 2007.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE… Beginning with reports of Amnesty International and the

International Crisis Group Medias cover the events since 2004 September 2004: the UNSC calls for a Commission of

Inquiry (Resolution 1564)

« genocidal intent appears to be missing » March 2005: UNSC refers to the International Criminal

Court In 2006: criticism of the international response, great

powers have different interests in Sudan. Oil-bearing interests of the USA, Great Britain, China…

CONCLUSION…

The interests of great powers seems to be an obstacle

The right of interference is questionned