UN should assist the African initiative of sending troops to Dafur to protect civilians
SIR— The root of the present humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, is not religion. It is tribal and economic since nearly all Darfurians are Muslim.
SIR— The root of the present humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan, is not religion. It is tribal and economic since nearly all Darfurians are Muslim.
The conflict started in the 1980s, based on economic conflict between the African farmers in southern Darfur and the Arab nomads of northern Darfur. It intensified in the 90s when the Arab nomads attacked African farmers. When hundreds of farmers in southern Darfur were killed, two black resistances, the SPA and JEM.
The present Sudanese Arab-oriented government widened the conflict not only by its own political and military conduct, which led to war-crimes like bombing villages, torturing prisoners and extra-judicial killings, but also by supporting militias like the Janjaweed, composed of Arab nomadic groups.
Since February 2003, they have massacred more than 50,000 civilians and displaced over a million people.
This has led to grave international criticism and two UN resolutions urging Khartoum to dismantle the Janjaweed militias. The UN should help the AU’s initiative of troops to protect civilians.
Astrid Essed
astridessed@hotmail.com
The conflict started in the 1980s, based on economic conflict between the African farmers in southern Darfur and the Arab nomads of northern Darfur. It intensified in the 90s when the Arab nomads attacked African farmers. When hundreds of farmers in southern Darfur were killed, two black resistances, the SPA and JEM.
The present Sudanese Arab-oriented government widened the conflict not only by its own political and military conduct, which led to war-crimes like bombing villages, torturing prisoners and extra-judicial killings, but also by supporting militias like the Janjaweed, composed of Arab nomadic groups.
Since February 2003, they have massacred more than 50,000 civilians and displaced over a million people.
This has led to grave international criticism and two UN resolutions urging Khartoum to dismantle the Janjaweed militias. The UN should help the AU’s initiative of troops to protect civilians.
Astrid Essed
astridessed@hotmail.com