Ashley Allen
Pol 371-01
Conflict, Violence, Nonviolence and Peace
23 April 2019
War in Darfur, Sudan
South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan are two distinct countries. After more than a century of
civil conflict between the opposing armed organizations, the North and the South divided. There
have always been conflicts and wars in this part of the planet. The Northeast African nation
Republic of Sudan has borders with South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. Due to its
neighbors, the Republic of Sudan has a history of bloody uprisings. Darfur, a region of Sudan, is
home to several conflicts that have spread from the administration. North Darfur, East Darfur,
Central Darfur, South Darfur, and West Darfur are the five federal states that make up Darfur. All
of these regions have been fighting to keep a nonviolent and peaceful relationship with the forces
of the Sudanese administration since February 2003.
The Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement are the two primary
rebel organizations engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army, police, and Janjaweed militia.
Darfur inhabitants identify their ethnic groups, locate their places in the community, and
legitimize themselves. Since people belong to different social groups, both groups are more
likely to engage in violence. Intergroup harmony and outgroup animosity result from this. The
mentalities of the in-group and the out-group are distinct. Sadly, the social identity theory
demonstrates that until both parties act in a way that promotes consensus and peace, the dispute
among the Sudanese government and rebel groups will not be addressed. Darfur is still in the
midst of a humanitarian disaster. Despite the failure of the combined peacekeeping mission and a
signed ceasefire agreement to pacify the war-torn region, additional measures to bring about
peace have not yet been made.
While the rebel factions describe their acts as persecuting certain people, the Sudanese
government refers to them as "ethnic cleansing." The non-Arab rebel factions are at war with the
government because it has attacked and purposefully killed non-Arabs in Darfur. In response to
rebel attacks on police stations, military installations, and convoys, the government launched a
huge air and ground offensive. There are several hundred thousand people who have died from
sickness, famine, or conflict. This conflict's justification adheres to the traditional civil war
strategy. Armed rebellions are said to be the result of resentments about being deprived of riches
and power because of ethnic disparities. According to economist Paul Collier of the World Bank,
"actors in civil wars are driven by economic prospects tied to armed insurrection." According to
studies, the people' political, racial, and economic objectives of the parties engaged may interact
to trigger a civil war. The economic objectives of the two parties involved in this situation are a
major factor in the conflict. The Sudanese government and rebel organizations are at odds over
territorial issues. Due to competing demands in the usage and management of water resources,
this causes water conflicts. Ethnic divisions also contribute to the violence.
The struggle between the Arab-dominated administration and citizens who are Christian or
non-Arab has a ten-year history in Sudan. Arab apartheid was implemented by the political
culture of Sudan to suppress non-Arab populations. These inhabitants of Sudan who are
non-Arab were tired of the systematic racial segregation that prevails in their region. Leading
scholar Mary Kaldor claims that "the objectives of modern conflicts are derived from identity
politics and the mode of battle is typified by the military." The term "paramilitary" refers to
independent bands of armed individuals. This term is well-suited to the coordinated rebel activity
in Darfur. Clear directives and weapons training made up the campaign's well-organized
organization.
The Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement massacred many
sleeping soldiers in Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, on April 25, 2003. For both the rebel
organizations and the government, this was a crucial turning point in history. After a rebel
movement succeeds in posing a danger to the national government, civil wars are shown to break
out in that nation. The fighting persisted, with the rebels winning the majority of the battles. To
combat the insurgents, the government therefore strengthened its armed forces. Negotiations
between the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement and the
Sudanese government followed the escalation of the Darfur crisis, and on April 8, 2004, the
Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement was reached. While this cessation of hostilities was adopted,
insurgent and Janjaweed raids persisted. The Arab Janjaweed tribes have played a significant
role in the battle despite repeated denials of government backing. The Darfur Peace Accord was
signed on May 5, 2006, between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Movement.
Until 2007, the Janjaweed continued to launch attacks, prompting the United Nations Security
Council to dispatch additional peacekeeping soldiers. A dispute over possession of a military
headquarters led to an attack on the Sudanese government by the Justice and Equality Movement
in 2008. The commander of the joint African Union-United Nations mission thought the Darfur
war was concluded in 2009. A new Darfur peace agreement brought about some progress in
2011, but a land dispute in 2013 caused the violence to worsen. According to allegations, the
Sudanese government assaulted, set ablaze, and used chemical weapons against Darfur residents
in 2014 and 2016. Reports indicate that violence in Darfur is continuing in 2018 despite signed
accords, peace negotiations, and even billions of dollars in aid. The dispute and violence in this
instance are best explained by the social identity perspective. "The person's awareness that one
belongs to particular social groupings together with some emotional and value importance to the
individual of the group membership" is how social identity is described. "Two or more persons
who share common social identification of themselves or regard themselves as members of the
same social category" is the definition of a social group. Social group connectedness and social
identity are inextricably interwoven. The distinguishing traits of the social groupings one belongs
to make up a big portion of how an individual defines themselves. People might develop an
identity based on the category they fit into. Individuals in opposing social groupings differ
according to their membership in those groups. Intergroup behavior may emerge from this. When
a person belongs to a particular social group, they will act in a particular way toward that group.
When members of the same group favor or have biases toward one another, this is known as
in-group positivity. Nationalism, defined as the "propensity to be uncompromisingly connected
to one's community and to oppose any perks that come with other groups," is a result of
interethnic interaction. This intergroup behavior is obtained by the Sudanese administration.
They could see the rebel factions on the outside to be dangerous and power-hungry. They "ethno
cleanse" the minority for this reason. The outgroup must be eliminated for them to survive.
Prejudice in the government may stem from a person's personality or from aspects of their
culture. The Sudanese military may potentially be affected by psychopathic personality disorder.
They showed hostility and discrimination toward those who were weaker than them and were
raised with prejudice. No of the situation, individuals of the in-group judge themselves more
favorably when compared to the out-group. According to the social identity theory, rivalry
among subgroups and colonized peoples is a result of social categorization and interethnic
distinction. Anxiety and unfavorable views about the outside group are easily transferred for the
in-group. So, the criticism directed towards the outgroup originates from the in-influence,
group's which extends beyond any specific individuals. The in-group has little trouble identifying
outgroup members to attack. Between the rebel factions and the Sudanese government, there
exist divisions and enmity. The conflict in this instance is between non-Arab rebel groups against
the Arab administration and military. Their mutual trust and collaboration are negatively
impacted by their disparities. The combination of the out of antagonism and interethnic optimism
in this situation makes relationships poorer. The division of the population into two categories on
the basis of a mostly worthless construct did lead to the strife in Darfur. This instance
demonstrates the power of a little beginning.
16 years after it began, the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, is still raging and violence still breaks out.
The government's hostility against non-Arabs and land rights are the root causes of the violence.
Almost two hundred eighty-five thousand people were displaced, and the United Nations
believes that 300,000 people were murdered. There is no prediction as to when the conflict,
bloodshed, and violence will stop. The rebel organizations Justice and Equality Movement and
Sudan Liberation Movement are still at war with the authorities. Although the fierce conflict
"diminished," Darfur is still a hazardous place. The Darfur area suffered severe damages as a
result of this conflict overall. The conflict involving the rebel organizations and the military
forces of the government is no longer a "simple war." Conflicts between various Arab
communities have contributed significantly to the violent death toll in Darfur in several years of
the sixteen-year conflict. Notwithstanding the widespread perception that the battle would be
between non-Arab rebels battling the Sudanese government and the Darfuri Arabs, several
smaller non-Arab parties have also fought for land rights. Regrettably, there is a strong tendency
of crime in the area. The deadly and intricate "stalemate" in Darfur continues. There are many
ways to describe and comprehend the Darfur civil conflict. On a local level, conflicts between
groups frequently center on resources like water and earth. Rebel organizations fight the
government on a nationwide scale. On a global scale, the great powers of the globe and Sudan's
neighbors typically respond to Darfur through the lens of their domestic politics.
It pains me to learn that, according to reports, the Sudanese government used chemical weapons
in Darfur in 2016, killing at least 250 people, the bulk of whom were youngsters. Government
representatives are not working hard enough to support the African agenda, which places a
premium on peace, security, and prosperity. Darfur is now experiencing a political and economic
crisis that not only threatens citizens but also depletes the nation's wealth and resources. Darfur
saw escalating violence as a result of the violent uprising of 2003. Humanitarian relief, human
rights protection, and ecological sustainability in this region's nations are all necessary.
Bombardments and violence are destroying one of Northeast Africa's poorest nations. Like in
any other nation, it is important to safeguard the safety of all Darfur residents. The General
Assembly must intervene to help the problem since surrounding nations are unable to aid the
people of Darfur. The United Nations considers development, security, and peace to be crucial.
In order to preserve human rights, provide emergency aid, advance ecological sustainability, and
maintain civil treaties, the United Nations must confront and maintain its mandate. The United
Nations can provide more assistance by focusing on and alleviating the difficulties that the
people of Sudan encounter on a daily basis. At a moment of anarchy, the UN must safeguard the
populace and prevent any additional bloodshed and fatalities.
The area needs a deal that will nudge the parties concerned closer to a solution. According to
studies, hostility rises in the presence of "violent images and individuals, or weapons." These
same impulses are also fueled by frustration and discomfort. Restricting the availability and
display of firearms is the first step in bringing about change in Darfur. Intergroup connections,
social comparisons, and intergroup disparities are some other sources of annoyance. There is still
rivalry between Arabs and non-Arabs, which is a necessary prerequisite for intergroup animosity.
A strategy for Darfur must prioritize national and state hierarchical structure. Also, the
Janjaweed forces must be efficiently demilitarized without further demeaning civilians. Whether
or whether the problem can be resolved by integrating rebel fighters into the Sudanese Military
Forces and police is not entirely supported. Yet, it is crucial to distribute land and money among
all Darfur people, and a flow of humanitarian aid into the region can also be beneficial. Darfur
has to be educated on compassion and mercy in order to mend ties there.
References
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Bennett, Mark, and Fabio Sani. The Development of the Social Self. Psychology Press, 2004.
Capozza, Dora. Social Identity Processes: Trends in Theory and Research. SAGE, 2000.
Cockett, Richard. Sudan: Darfur and the Failure of an African State. Yale University Press, 2010.
Flint, Julie., et al. Darfur: A New History of a Long War. Rev. & updated ed., Zed Books ;
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