Understanding the Darfur Genocide: A Historical Analysis

Preston Snow

Professor Marshall Swindall

HIST 113 63

17 November 2015

African Militarism and the Darfur Genocide The first issue encountered when studying the Darfur genocide is determining whether the events in question even amount to genocide. Concerning the mass killing, raping, and pillaging that occurred in southern Sudan applying that internationally feared term was perhaps more difficult than one might imagine. International Organizations such as the United Nations and their constituent divisions originally determined that there was no evidence to support the fact that genocide was indeed taking place. While many scholars have their own definition of genocide, the one that matters is the one that will affect intervention. William Schabas,

For centuries, the African Political system has operated largely upon ethnic divides and exploitation by the elite groups using race to achieve political power (Hoeven, Salih, & Grono, 2007). The Sudan government was largely Arabic, and therefore largely supportive of the Arab herdsmen, causing both oppression of the blacks and natural indignation and resistance as well. Racial motivation may have also been spurred by the large presence of Muslims within the Arab community, often causing them to invoke jihad during their quest for the annihilation of the African society. That being said, it was unprecedented for the Sudanese government to go to such lengths of destruction under the claim of jihad specifically; further motivation was

Since then international organizations such as the African Union and the International Criminal Court pursued policies of prevention toward the government of Sudan and issued arrest warrants for many of the leaders involved (Holocaust Museum Houston). This included the two main leaders: Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb: 82 counts of crimes including murder, rape, war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc… (INTERPOL). The other, named Ahmad Harun: 84 counts of crimes including Crimes against humanity, persecution, inhumane acts, murder, etc… (INTERPOL). While the African farmers in Darfur still faced armed raids, pillaging, and raping in 2014, international security forces are present in Sudan and in refugee camps in and around the Darfur area. Many fled to the country of chad, causing increased political turbidity there as