What are the causes of the civil war in Darfur?

Question

I'm having trouble understanding what caused the civil war in Darfur, can anyone explain what caused this war?

Answer 1

oh my god, it's incredible how people want everything to be related to muslims killing christians...
The people in DArfur being massacred are MUSLIMS, and they are being killed by their own government army, who happen to be also muslims.
The main reason again is OIL. Mainstream media seem to concentrate their reports on the conflict in Darfur as being about government backed Janjaweed eliminating black Africans who feel marginalised and excluded from getting a fair share of power and wealth for their region. Which, going by witness accounts, is all true. I've sought (unsuccessfully) to find the answer to one of my questions, namely: All during the past years of Peace Accord negotiations for the north and south of Sudan, why did the U.S. and Sudan see fit to exclude the western and eastern regions of Sudan?

Back in April I'd read somewhere that oil had been discovered in both Darfur and along the border of Sudan and Chad. In May I came across another report by Professor O'Fahey that provides a succinct overview of western Sudan's history. The report basically says the Gov of Sudan supports the rape, mass killings and ethnic cleansing because it is determined to retain control over Darfur for a simple reason: a possible oil pipeline through Darfur.Maybe the U.S. did not view Darfur as a big problem as they concentrated on brokering peace for the north-south: a lasting peace that would enable a seemingly united Sudan move forward and progress for the benefit of all regions. It would appear the U.S. does not have an interest in Sudan's oil, not because it is too expensive but because their main aim is to promote democracy and fight international terrorism (and respond to pressure from groups concerned with abuses of human rights).

Perhaps the Gov of Sudan knew all along that there was oil in Darfur. And they presumed (wrongly) people in the Western world wouldn't notice that black Africans were being eliminated to make way for the Arabisation of Sudan. The Gov of Sudan are keen on getting the Peace Accord signed and sealed because it will legitimise their standing (they're an unelected dictatorship that stole power through a coup) and it will help pave the way for doing deals with Asian oil companies, which may in turn help attract back the big players (ie British Petroleum) that pulled out of Sudan because of human rights issues.

It will be too long to explain it all here, google it on the internet and you'll get all the readings you need.
That was a good question though!

Answer 2

The Darfur conflict is an ongoing armed conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, mainly between the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited from the camel-herding tribes of the Abbala, and the mostly agricultural non-Baggara people of the region. The conflict began in July 2003. Unlike the Second Sudanese Civil War, which was fought between the primarily Muslim north and Christian and Animist south, in Darfur most of the residents are Muslim, as are the Janjaweed. The Darfur Peace Agreement signed May 5, 2006 hoped to end the conflict, but fighting, mass killings and rape has continued nonetheless.

Answer 3

Civil War In Darfur

Answer 4

It's not a civil war it's genocide. Civil war implies that two sides are fighting, in Darfur it is a slaughter. Bands of Muslims are going around killing Christians (their favorite pastime) and the government of Sudan, being Muslim, doesn't care.

The United Nations, being the colossal waste of money, space, time, and everything else, sat back and did nothing as the genocide unfolded. African Union forces are trying to keep the peace, but they are stretched thin and not particularly well equipped.

Answer 5

darfur is a problem of immigration. the people there went to that region of sudan because the surrounded countries are ravaged by way and famine. what happened there is the same thing that happened here with the immigration problem. these people are comming to this land and trying to say it is their land, they even want independence from the sunda governmnet. i am not saying murdering is correct but this applies to both sides. the sudnanise government does not have an organized government enough to kick these people off their land so as you can see they are fighting agressivly with these people to get them out of their land. do not be fooled. both parties are fighting each other and killing. it is not aone way street where it is the refugees who are completley the victims. it is the same priniciple as illegal immigrants who come here and then want to take a peice of american land and claim it as their own. the american government would not stand that. the sudani people do not feel they should have to just hand over darfur to illegal immigrants.

Answer 6

it's not religious. it's tribal. sudan is generally made up of arab-africans and black africans. sometime in 2003, the rebels in southern sudan (the black africans) - probably ticked off at some injustice or the other they'd been dealt with - took up arms to protest against the govt. their reason: they were fed up with being treated as second class citizens in thier own country (note that majority of the govt officials in sudan are arab africans).

This was what escalated to what we have today. it is believed that the govt is financially supporting the arab militia - janjaweed - who stood have stood up to the rebels.

Thus the problem: with govt backing and the supposed funding the janjaweed is obviously more equipped than the rebels. What might have started out as a simple issue of taking a stand for thier rights to be treated as equal, has manifested into this civil war.

Answer 7

This is a religious war(they all are) go to this link and learn more.

http://www.amazon.com/Causes-Sudans-Civil-African-Issues/dp/0253215846 - 131k -

Also there is and organization called SaveDarfur.com that can give you any other advice you need on Darfur.

Answer 8

Muslims against christians.