by Danielle Brouse
The Darfur region is a drought-prone area of western Sudan. By area, Darfur is roughly the size of Texas and is divided into three states that had a collective population of approximately 6 million people before the crisis in Darfur began in 2003. The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) launched attacks against government military installations as part of a campaign to fight against the historic political and economic marginalization of Darfur. In May 2006, the Sudanese government signed a peace agreement with one of the rebel movements. However, the Sudanese government continued to fight the two other groups) that refused to sign the agreement. The Sudanese government has obstructed the deployment of an international peacekeeping force, avoided serious negotiations with the rebel groups, refused to prosecute any individuals responsible for crimes against humanity committed in Darfur, and most recently expelled thirteen international humanitarian aid groups from Darfur. These actions continue to leave many civilians in Darfur unprotected and dispossessed of their basic human rights.
Want to know more? Go to… http://www.savedarfur.org/