However, the abolition of the system of native administration dealt a serious blow to these traditions. Moreover, successive Sudanese rulers in Khartoum began to manipulate these conflicts for their own benefit.
Environmental degradation and competition over resources can be understood as principal causes of communal conflict in Darfur, but the ongoing carnage is also a product of a long history of ethnic marginalization and manipulation by Sudan's ruling elites. The post-colonial governments were dominated by the Arabic-speaking elites from the central and the northern parts of the country.
In addition to concentrating economic development in their home regions, these elites tried to forge a national identity based on Arabism and Islam.
These policies generated a tenacious resistance by the non-Arab and non-Muslim groups in the marginalized region of the South, the Nuba Mountains, and the Red Sea region.
A number of regionally and ethnically-based rebel movements emerged in the s and the s, particularly in the South where a civil war raged for several decades. In Darfur, an organization called the Darfur Development Front was formed in the mids to advocate the region's demands for economic development and greater autonomy, but it remained a relatively small movement. Nonetheless, a strong sense of deprivation continued to prevail among Darfurians and continued to shape their relationship with the Khartoum governments.
If internal tensions were not enough, Darfur has also suffered from the instability and conflicts that have plagued its neighbors, particularly Chad and Libya. A number of Darfur ethnic groups such as the Zaghawa, Masalit, and Mahiriyya also live in Chad, which has made it easier for conflicts to spread across borders. Porous, ethnically intertwined borders affected Darfur during the Chadian civil wars of the s, in which Libya became heavily involved. In addition to mounting a series of military adventures in Chad, Libya supported various Chadian factions who used Darfur as a rear base, pillaging local farmers and cattle-herders and pouring large quantities of arms into the region.
His goal was to ensure Libya's hegemony in the region. The scheme involved recruiting and arming discontented Arabic-speaking and Tuareg groups in the Sahel into what came to be known as the "Islamic Legion" as the spearhead in Libya's offensive in Chad.
Some of the legion's members were also drawn from the Arabic-speaking pastoralists in Darfur. Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Stanton Foundation. Skip to main content. The Ohio State University. Department of History. Home Topics Africa. Middle East. North America. International Relations Religion Education Sports. Search form Search.
Connecting History. Hot off the Press. History Talk. Editor's Note : Since , the Darfur region of western Sudan has been the site of terrible violence, death, and displacement; what the United States has labeled 'genocide.
Prelude to Conflict: The Environment The current Darfur conflict is a product of an explosive combination of environmental, political, and economic factors. Pastoralists and Sedentaries Conflict between pastoralists and sedentary farmers, caused in part by environmental pressures and changing land ownership patterns, was an important cause of the Darfur violence.
Ethnic Tensions and Porous Borders Environmental degradation and competition over resources can be understood as principal causes of communal conflict in Darfur, but the ongoing carnage is also a product of a long history of ethnic marginalization and manipulation by Sudan's ruling elites. Readers may also be interested in the following Book Reviews:. Livingstone, I Presume? To discuss and comment on this article, please visit our Facebook page. RSS Feed.
Email alerts. Sudan's Nuba Mountains. Beja Bedouins in Sudan with Camels. Commemorative English Poster of the War in Sudan Sketch from s. Detailed Political Map of Sudan, Formatted Satellite Image of Sudan. General Assembly in , member countries, including the United States, are required to intervene when genocide occurs. Support Provided By: Learn more.
Wednesday, Nov The Latest. World Agents for Change. Health Long-Term Care. For Teachers. NewsHour Shop. About Feedback Funders Support Jobs. Close Menu. Email Address Subscribe. One of the prerequisites to peace was a full integration of the RSF into the military. However, its commander, Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagolo - who is also the country's vice-president, has since publicly refused to unify with the Sudanese armed forces.
Experts believe this is slowing down the peace process, affecting Darfuris tormented by the violence of the past and present. Humanitarian organisations working on the ground have also emphasised the government's need to work harder to ensure security. Elliot Vhurumuku, from the UN's World Food Programme - which is providing life-saving nutrition to more than a million people in the region - says every attack heightens food insecurity.
With no end in sight for the violence that has engulfed West Darfur, the peace process is beginning to show signs of cracks. That's why Ms Abaker is not optimistic about the future. You may also be interested in:. Sudan country profile. Profile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir. Africa Today podcasts. Khamisa Juma Ishag Abaker's home used to stand here, before her settlement was attacked. Ms Abaker and her family have ended up here, in El Geneina. She is too afraid to go back. Darfur: How did we get here?
Return of Sudan's feared Janjaweed The ruthless gold mercenaries who run Sudan Why this year-old boy has never seen his 'home'. Ms Abaker's settlement suffered massive damage, and she is too scared to go back.
Khamis Mohamed Ishag Osman has returned to his home, and is rebuilding. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in the last two years. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.
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