Injured Darfur Citizen

Darfur, a region within Sudan, has known nothing but one thing, bloodshed. Darfur has been involved in many conflicts, but one holds itself over the rest. The current conflict is so important because it shows how much more work needs to be done before a whole world can stand united in equality. The Sudanese government is accused of many inhumane and genocidal acts. They defend themselves, labeling the many groups that are against the government as rebels.

The Darfur conflict began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement took up arms against the Sudanese government accusing them of oppressing non-Arabians in favor of Arabians. Darfur’s population is predominately black Africans with Muslim beliefs. The Sudanese government responded to the rebellion by sending Arabian militia, called the Janjaweed, into Darfur utilizing aerial bombardments with support by ground forces. The citizens within Darfur have been killed mercilessly. There has been evidence of rape, and mass genocide of the civilians. The Sudanese government has been accused of tampering with evidence, and also harassing journalists. This makes it hard for details and information about Darfur getting out.

The United States government calls it genocide, while the United Nations believes that, in a 176-page report, while there is evidence of rape and mass murder, it does not have an apparent genocidal movement behind it. The Darfurian's, and many countries around the world accuse the Sudanese government of neglecting Darfur.

Peace was finally found when, in May 2006, the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement agreed to draft a peace agreement. On May 5, 2006, the peace draft was signed at Abuja, Nigeria. The peace agreement became known as the Abuja agreement.

Many Dafurian’s and Dafurian movements who opposed the government were displeased with the Abuja agreement. The different movements, and the ones who didn’t see eye-to-eye with the Abuja agreement, formed a new rebel alliance called the National Redemption Front. The NRF consists of the different militia groups within Darfur. It also includes once members of the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement who were displeased with peace between their group and the Sudanese government.

The United Nations decided to send aid to Darfur when it approved Resolution 1706. The decision sent a 26,000 peacekeeping force to help ill-equipped and poorly funded African Union Missions within Darfur. The Sudanese government strongly objected to the United Nations Resolution by warning that UN troops within their region would be treated as foreign invaders. That following day, the Sudanese government launched a huge offensive into Darfur. In early 2007, to add to the list of accusations toward the Sudanese government, the mission of Resolution 1706 accused the government of taking part in, and also organizing and carrying out gross violations towards the people in Darfur. The UN called for urgent international action to protect the civilians.

The Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, had been filed ten charges of war crimes to him by the prosecutors at the International Crime Court. The ICC's prosecutors claim that al-Bashir "masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part" tribal groups within Darfur because of their ethnicity. On March 4, 2009, the prosecutors moved forward at the International Crime Court and had an arrest warrant for al-Bashir. The warrant was without the genocide charges because of lack of evidence.

The United States, Britain, and the European Union have reportedly condemned the atrocities, but have not taken any action. Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Britain 1997-2007, said what is happening in the region is "completely unacceptable," and called for "urgent action."

Support for Darfur has been international, political, and educational alike, but a group called Aegis Students hosts a website called www.fund4darfur.org. The site takes donation money to help the oppressed citizens of Darfur. The group is student-led and has hosted websites in support of anti-genocide.

The conflict in Darfur isn’t over. It still rages on. People have come so far, and continue to go farther every day. Equality wasn’t won over a day or a night, nor did it take six years. Hope is there in Darfur, and the Darfurian’s believe that what is happening to them now is only a gateway to bigger and better things. The Darfurian’s believe that one day they won’t fear the government of the land they live on, and that equality can be won. Do you?