Crying with the Sudanese: Inside a 20-year-old ethnic War against Black Sudanese

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In the heart of Africa lies a troubled region, where a 20-year-old ethnic war which broke out in 2003 has inflicted pain, displacement, and despair upon the Black Sudanese population particularly of Dafur. The conflict, primarily rooted in historical grievances, identity politics, and economic disparities, has left scars that run deep not only across the nation but the continent and its future aspirations.

Sudan ethnic war

A brief overview of the 20-year-old Sudanese ethnic war

The roots of the Sudanese ethnic war trace back to a complex interplay of historical events, marked by a history of marginalization and discrimination against non-Arab ethnic groups. Tensions escalated as power struggles unfolded between the former Arab-dominated government of Omar Al-Bashir and the Black Sudanese, particularly in regions like Darfur and South Kordofan. 

In this historical war, the toll on civilians has been devastating, with widespread reports of violence, displacement, and human rights abuses that still goes on. Families torn apart, villages destroyed, and lives shattered - the human cost of this prolonged conflict is immeasurable. International organizations and aid agencies have since struggled to provide assistance to those affected, but have been facing numerous challenges due to the volatile nature of the conflict.

According to Human Rights Watch, the government of Sudan under the then President Omar al-Bashir has been responsible for 'ethnic cleansing' and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Human Rights Watch goes further to confirm that the Sudanese government and the Arab "Janjaweed" militias have committed numerous attacks on the civilian populations of the African Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups. In most cases those acts were oversaw by Sudanese government forces. 

Among the many inhuman acts include massacres, indiscriminate executions of civilians including women and children, burnings of towns, mosques, and villages, and the forcible depopulation of wide swathes of lands that were long inhabited by the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa. Those acts have forced a large population of black Sudanese into camps and settlements where they are still  living in deplorable conditions. It has been reported that the Arab supremacists have continued carrying on with their inhuman and barbaric acts on the desperate victims. To make matters worse, when Janjaweed become less and less effective, another paramilitary body with the same mandate was formed by Al-Bashir, the Rapid Support Forces, RSF.

As the world bears witness to this humanitarian crisis, diplomatic efforts have been underway to bring about a resolution. International organizations and peacekeeping missions aim to address the root causes, foster dialogue, and create conditions for a sustainable peace. There happened to be continuous international pressure and the ultimate arrest warrant (which has not been made ever since) for Omar al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, the Bashir government denied the allegations and its involvement in the massacres against its black population. Moreover, the government was blamed by the international community for obstructing the flow of refugees into the neighbouring country, Chad, to hide the impression of conflict.

With the government's involvemnet ever since, inavigating the complexities of the conflict and securing lasting solutions has remained a significant challenge. In their many years of investigation, Human Rights Watch has blamed the previous Sudanese government for the manipulation of evidences which went further to tampering with mass graves. What seemed to have been the solution to the conflict was the overthrow of the 30-years-old Bashir's regime in 2019 after successful mass demonstrations. 

The protests began in December 2018 and gained momentum as time goes by. On April 11, 2019, the Sudanese military announced that it had removed al-Bashir from power, leading to his arrest. The military then established a transitional military council to govern the country temporarily. This development marked a significant shift in Sudanese politics, with negotiations eventually leading to a power-sharing agreement between the military and civilian groups including the black communities. The transitional period was aimed at paving the way for civilian rule and democratic elections. 

Interweaving threads between the old Sudanese ethnical war and the recent power struggle

As per an article on Aljazeera, the recent 2023 conflict has its roots in the longtern enthnic war. The Aljazeera article confirms that after Janjaweed was weakened, the Bashir government invented yet another paramilitary body, the RSF, with the same responsibility as Janjaweed. In the efforts to empower RSF, the government went further to making it more powerful that the army that it would soon turn out to fight the same government as seen recently.

With the two sides thirst for power through their leaders Mohamed Hamdan Daglo of RSF and army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhana full scale war broke out in Khartoum. Dafur was not spared either when another front of the ethic war was opened. This time, on March 23, a non-Arab trader was murdered, it was followed by the vengeful stoning of two alleged Arab culprits. The war culminated to the death of lawyers who had dared going to court for past killings. The West Darfur governor Khamis Abbakar was also a victim after speaking of a perpetuated genocide against his own community and calling for international help. Although the new war is based in Sudanese Capital, Aljazeera reported that the deathtoll has been higher in Dafur as of June 2023. 


The continued fight for peace and interracial inclusivity in Sudan

Various groups have been involved in conflicts in Sudan, particularly the mentioned regions like Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile state. These groups have risen in response to perceived marginalization, economic disparities, and political grievances. They are what the former Sudanese government termed as 'Rebells.' Aljazeera sheds light on them as having sprouted from the marginalized black communities who saw it better to express their anger towards the former oppressive regime of Omar Al-Bashir just like the Mau Mau of Kenya and Umunkhoto We Sizwe of South Africa did. 

Those rebel activities were initially aimed at pushing the government to initiate change. In the records, the larger black communities have resulted in retaliation aginst the Sudanese government since 2003 as a result of their marginalization. It can be confirmed that the continuous fight between the government and rebel groups especially in the Dafur region is that of an unsatisfied people demanding for inclusivity in governance.

The rebel groups have in later years grown to encompose Arabs who also feel marginalized or are sympathizers of the rebelling tribes. Amidst the turmoil, the voices of these true patriots of Sudan, both those from the Black and concerned Arab communities that have been affected by the conflict, echo a resilient spirit yearning for peace and justice. Narratives of survival, stories of hope, and the collective cry for justice underscore the indomitable human spirit prevailing against adversity.

Over the years, peace talks and negotiations have been attempted to address the root causes of these conflicts and achieve lasting resolutions. Those efforts have helped ease the suffering to some extent but it is evident that more efforts are needed. The path to resolution should involve not only addressing immediate humanitarian needs as it has been seen, but also tackling the underlying issues of inequality, discrimination, and historical grievances. Inclusive governance, meaningful dialogue, and efforts to rebuild communities are essential elements in paving the way for a more stable and harmonious Sudan. The tears shed in Sudan must serve as a catalyst for change, prompting the world to unite in the pursuit of a brighter, more harmonious future for this resilient nation.

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