Transcript THE DARFUR CONFLICT A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

THE DARFUR CONFLICT
A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER
KEY FIGURES…
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400,000 people died
2 million have been driven from their homes
TABLE OF CONTENTS…
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Geography
Background
Chronology of facts
International response
Conclusion
GEOGRAPHY
3 tribes:
The Fur
The Masalit
The Zaghawa
BACKGROUND…
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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…
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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…
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Interactions between Sudan, Lybia and Chad
Establishment of Darfur as a rear base (decided by
Sudanese preseident)
1983-84: famine
Civil war
BACKGROUND…
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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…
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April 2004: ceasefire declared between the Sudanese
government and JEM and SLM
Kofi 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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The interests of great
powers seems to be an
obstacle
The right of interference
is questionned