The Darfur Crisis - structural factors and challenges, resolution methods, long term needs

Résumé du document

Since February 2003, Sudan's western province of Darfur has been the site of an extremely violent conflict between the province's nomadic Arab tribes, supported by the government in Khartoum, and the native African settled peasant tribes. Fighting among various factions has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million. Attacks on civilians have been brutal and includes burning homes, killings and rapes. The Darfur crisis is a part of what the political observers call 'the ethnic conflicts'. As the world is witnessing a new genocide, the international stage is envisaging all the solutions that could put an end to the slaughter. By looking into the Darfur case, we can realize how inextricable the situation is, or seems to be. What are the real issues of this conflict? What is in stake in Sudan's new crisis? I decided to investigate the Darfur case while I was visiting the International Crisis Group website. In their page devoted to the Darfur crisis, I was particularly interested by the rubric 'What You Can Do'. Among the different actions suggested, I read 'Inform yourself about the crisis'. I chose to make this current conflict the subject of my paper, which is the best way to know more about what the United States consider a 'genocide'.

Extraits

[...] A new group of rebels appeared out of the JEM, the “National Movement for Reform and Development” which didn't take part in the negotiations. The Janjaweed kept on doing their violent actions The United Nations resolved to tackle the Darfur crisis. But Russia and China has been strongly criticized as they violated the UN embargo, acting as if they didn't know Khartoum's attitude in the conflict. May 2006 At this time, there was no common position of the rebel groups and no real willingness from the Sudanese government to disarm the Janjaweed. The accord had no real value. [...]

[...] - The conflict is not only between Arab and African, it would be too simple. Two rebel groups the JEM and the SLA- accuse the government of oppressing non Arabs. In the article called “Ethnic and internal conflict” ( Turbulent Peace Michael Brown explains that elites want to avoid the emergence of political challenges and rebellions. These elites wouldn't hesitate to fight when its privileges are threatened. The author writes about roles played by domestic elites in transforming potentially violent situation in deadly situation.” In our case, the domestic elites can represent the Arab population from the North who has the back of the central government. [...]

[...] I will now describe how different conflict resolution methods have been or could be used in the conflict. It is important to know what types of peace initiatives have been taken and by whom. Then, I will study the results and what have made these peace actions possible. In this part, I will also try to study the weaknesses and the strengths that the different methods had in dealing with the conflict What have been done to resolve the conflict - What type of peace initiatives has been taken? [...]

[...] Even if a “negative peace” is essential: it is the first step in a conflict resolution; it is not sufficient to install a long run peace. The structural violence is a violence that is not directly committed by the enemy parties but that is due to the conflict. Poverty and hunger are a part of the structural violence in Darfur. We could call it collateral damages”. The cultural violence is very complex, it designates whatever blinds us to this or seeks to justify it. I will now explain what is needed to achieve a solution which could be sustainable in the long run. [...]

[...] International Crisis Group, an organisation which works to prevent conflict worldwide, has studied what needs to be done in Darfur. ICG underlines the strong responsibility of the international community in the Darfur Crisis. The U.S., China, other members of the UN Security Council should press both sides of the conflicting parties to give up the idea of a military victory. The international community has to impose punitive measures as asset freezes and travel against those responsible. Moreover, the Sudanese government has to distance itself from the Janjaweed militia, to accept the negotiations with the rebels. [...]