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Darfur Conflict
In Sudan, ongoing conflict in the Darfur region in the western parts of the country, reaching its climax in 2003 and 2004. The first clashes of what would escalate into this conflict, came already back in the 1970's.
The main groups of the conflict are peoples claiming Arab decent of the Abbala region, and several peoples indigenous of the Darfur. The conflict is over land-ownership, and may to some extent be seen as conflict between Arabs and black Africans. The Arabs have formed the Janjaweed militia, and the Sudanese government has denied any links to the Janjaweed, but there is good proof of them providing the Janjaweed with arms and assistance, and there have even been joint actions against the indigenous civilian population of Darfur.
The increasing desertification of the north, is one of the most important reasons for the conflict. Nomads claiming Arab descent moved southwards, into the more fertile lands, as their situation worsened. As Arabs are nomads, blacks farmers, this is a conflict between nomads and settled inhabitants of the region.
The actual impact of the conflict is highly uncertain, but a common death toll as of late 2006, was 400,000, with 2.5 million driven away from their homes. The conflict is often labelled "genocide".
History
1970's and 1980's: Drought and famine in Sahara causes desertification of northern Sudan, causing migration of nomadic tribes claiming Arab descendancy, as well as the black Zaghawa, to move south into more fertile regions.
1987: Formation of the Arab Gathering by Darfurians of with Arab identity. The Arabs receive aid from the central Sudanese government, and raids on the Fur, the original population of central Darfur is encouraged by Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. The Arab militia would become known as janjaweed or janjawid.
— The Fur forms a militia, fighting back on the Arabs. This low-scale conflict would endure until 1989.
1994: The heartland of the Fur is divided into 3 provinces; South, North and West Darfur.
1995: The homeland of the Masalit people is divided and areas are placed under Arab administration. The Masalit rebels, and a war that would last until 1998 breaks out between them and the Arabs. Large groups of refugees flee intil Chad.
1999: The war between the Masalit and the Arabs breaks out again. 125 Masalit villages are burnt.
2003: Two black rebel armies are formed in Darfur. The Masalit and Fur forms the secular Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). From the Zaghawa people, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is formed. The orientation of JEM had elements of Islamist ideology.
— February: The SLA launches attacks in northern parts of Darfur. The Janjaweed launches attacks on non-Arab villages, driving the locals from their homes.
— April: Al-Fashir is attacked by the SLA, and the airport and a government armoury is captured.
— Mass flight from Darfur begins. 100,000 black refugees are driven into Chad followed by Janjawed. A gun battle on the border to Chad leaves 80 dead, 10 being Chadian soldiers.
— May: Mellit comes briefly under SLA control. They are soon joined by the JEM.
— The Sudanese army sends more troops into Darfur to fight the SLA and JEM, and has the Janjaweed outfitted as a paramilitary force.
— September: Chad assists in negotiations between the Sudanese government and the SLA. JEM boycotts the negotiations.
Late 2003/early 2004:The war breaks out again.
2004 February: The Sudanese government declares that the war has ended.
— April 8: Peace is agreed between the Sudanese government and the leaders of SLA and JEM. A part of JEM breaks out, forming National Movement for Reform and Development. Also, the attacks of the Janjaweed would continue.
— July: A few hundred peacekeeping soldiers of the African Union (AU) is stationed in Darfur. A year later, their number had increased to 7,000.
— September: The United States government declares the actions against blacks of Darfur a "genocide".
2005 December: Border clashes to Chad brings the conflict close to war between Chad and Sudan, the former starting initial mobilization. War is, however, avoided.
2006 June: Fighting reemerges in Darfur. United Nations (UN) attemps to replace the 7,000 AU soldiers with 17,000 UN soldiers, but this is rejected by the Sudanese government.
— August: Sudanese forces launches a campaign in Darfur, to bring control over the region.
— December: Formation of a new Arab militia, The Popular Forces Troops in opposition to the Sudanese government forces. They claim that the Janjaweed do not represent the Darfurian Arabs.
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