Darfur Conflict

Essay by McCheatyJunior High, 9th gradeA-, January 2007

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Although the horrors of the Darfur conflict do not quite compare to those of the Nazi Concentration Camps, the world is observing the current situation the same way it observed what happened decades ago during the second World War; with their eyes closed. This conflict, which some are referring to as genocide, is taking place in western Sudan, located in Africa. The acts of violence taking place in Darfur began as early as 2003, and the innocent victims in the region are still awaiting peace.

The crisis began when rebel forces (mainly non-Arabic) attacked the Sudanese government, claiming that the latter "is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs." These forces also state that the region of Darfur was being mistreated by the country's capital: Khartoum. The government responded to these assaults by taking sides with and by providing weapons to the Janjaweed, an Arab militia having been accused of attempts to eliminate black Africans from the nearby territory.

Although the government denies the joining of forces with the Janjaweed, Darfur refugees have confirmed that following the government's aerial bombings, these soldiers have slaughtered men, raped women and have looted many villages in their path. Civilians have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in camps within Darfur's larger towns where there is a shortage of food supplies, medicine and more importantly, water. Many have gone as far as escaping to Chad, a neighbouring country whose conditions in certain regions are the same as in Darfur.

On May 5th 2006, a peace accord was offered by the country's largest rebel force, the Sudan Liberation Army, and was signed by the government, however two smaller rebel groups have refused to accept the treaty. The objective was for the Janjaweed to be disarmed, and for the rebel forces to become...