Darfur Decoded: The Complex History and Current State of Darfur
Darfur is a territory in Sudan that has been mentioned in history books for a long time. It is a complex region situated in the western part of Sudan, bordering Chad, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. Darfur contains around 80 ethnic groups, with the most prominent being the Masalit and Fur peoples, who have been a part of the region for centuries. Many of these ethnic groups make a living through either agriculture or livestock herding, and their communities and way of life revolve around these trades.
Darfur is split between those who identify as Black Africans and those who identify as Arabs. When resources and crops run low, ethnic divides come to the forefront, triggering small-scale conflicts between different groups that have been ongoing since the 1950s. In 2003, what many historians call the Darfur War occurred: a genocide against the non-Arab populations in the region. The ethnic groups most affected by this genocide were the Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit people. The conflict displaced thousands of people and claimed many lives, including over 200,000 Sudanese. The Janjaweed group, a paramilitary force, committed particularly inhumane crimes, including the rape of women and children, the murder of civilians, and drowning, among many other atrocities during this time period.
This historical tension resonates today, as Arab militias continue to rummage through villages in Darfur, causing havoc among these towns. Already, there is a war going on between the Rapid Sudanese Force (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and this conflict has caused widespread issues throughout the region and the entire country. Both the SAF and RSF participated in a successful coup against Sudan’s former leader, but disagreed over who would now control the country. Protests erupted across Sudan, and for a time, Abdalla Hamdok became the prime minister. However, his response to the country’s economic and societal issues was unsatisfactory to many, leading to his resignation. Currently, there is an absence in leadership in the country, which has caused a complete and utter power struggle between the SAF and RSF.
While this national conflict continues, the Darfur region is experiencing yet another genocide. What felt like a one-time atrocity in 2003 has now returned, with militias increasingly ruining lives and creating one of the greatest humanitarian crises known to man. One of the root issues of the Darfur region is its geography. Darfur is extremely far from other parts of Sudan, which creates serious challenges for the people living there. As this conflict unfolds, there are few places for the people of Darfur to flee. Many have rushed to the Chad border, seeking asylum from the genocide that is occurring.
This situation is exacerbated by the fact that humanitarian organizations like the UN and the International Food Bank are unable to get sufficient supplies and personnel on the ground due to Darfur's remoteness and the region’s poor infrastructure. What little infrastructure once existed has now been destroyed by militias, leaving people with little hope for what to do next. Sadly, the situation in Darfur is not improving as the fighting between the SAF and RSF escalates, prompting continuous pressure from the international community to take action in the region. The special advisor to the Secretary-General stated that “the situation today bears all the marks of a risk of genocide, with strong allegations that this crime has already been committed.”
This leads to a pressing question: what will the international community do about the situation in Darfur? Currently, the only actors helping those being ethnically cleansed are NGOs like the UN and the World Food Bank. These, however, have little to no power in fighting against the Janjaweed and other military groups. The importance of the international system in resolving conflicts like this, where the state itself has collapsed, is therefore seen to be more important than ever before. In this case, Sudan is a broken state, now controlled by two military factions that have no interest in the well-being of their citizens. So, the question remains: will other states intervene? The reality is that they are unlikely to, as many fear further escalation with these military groups. Given all the information cited above, it seems that ethnic cleansing will continue in Darfur, and the international community may once again be witness to another tragedy in this world of polycrisis.
Image courtesy of UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran via Flickr, ©2011. Some rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the wider St. Andrews Foreign Affairs Review team.
