“Conflict in Sudan” Mohannad A. Shaddad
Introduction:
The protracted conflict in Sudan reflects the long standing economic disparities, political exclusion and social and cultural deprivation in the distribution of political and economic power between the centre and the peripheries. The country inherited from colonialism a highly centralized authoritarian governance system and an uneven pattern of regional development. These structural elements shaped the later evolution of the modern Sudanese state and contributed to the marginalization of the peripheries, especially in the South. Both factors are mutually reinforcing, since in authoritarian systems economic and social development is often dependent on political leverage and access to political power. Without political backing, marginalized groups and regions have only limited access to social and economic services and institutions. The root causes of the communal inter- and intra-tribal and ethicized regional conflicts in Sudan could be seen in the competition over meager and dwindling natural resources and political power positions. The meddling of the Islamist central government in tribal politics aggravated the communal conflicts. Darfur gives an example of the interlink ages and reinforcement of communal, inter-tribal conflicts over access to resources and the national conflict about power and wealth sharing. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed on the 9th January of 2005 formally ended one of the longest and highly violent armed conflicts in Africa. Although it is considered as not inclusive relating to the conflict issues (e.g. Darfur, the East) and the stakeholders (opposition parties, militias, rebel movements and civil society) it can be regarded as an unprecedented window of opportunity to attain a lasting peace in the country. This paper tries to explain and understand the root causes of conflict in Darfur. Overview and Conflict Dynamics: Sudan has been the site of armed conflict and civil unrest for more than half a century, Sudan, Africa’s largest country, it is divided along lines of religion (70 % Muslim, 25% animist, 5 % Christian), ethnicity (African, Arab origin), tribe and economic activity (nomadic and sedentary). Country has been in near constant war since independence in 1956, with most significant conflict between North and South 1956-1972 and 1983-2005 . Loose Ottoman-Egyptian administration collapsed 1880s after revolt led by self-appointed Islamic Mahdi. Anglo-Egyptian forces captured Khartoum 1889, establishing joint-administration. British separated North and South until 1947, giving political power to northern elite before country gained independence January 1956. General Abboud seized power 1958, …show more content…
Some tribes believe that the government was not able to defend them against other tribes and armed criminal gangs who have more sophisticated weapons, which led several nomadic tribes to form their own defense groups
Darfur conflict has been categorized as an inter-communal conflict for generations. However, in the eighties the conflict in Darfur became more vicious and many of them acquired an ethnic dimension, between the Arabs and non-Arab (African) identity groups .
The Fur is the largest ethnic group in Darfur; they are farmers and depend on agriculture. The second largest tribe in this group, the Zaghawa, is mostly nomadic with some sects of the tribe practicing farming. The Zaghawa also exist in Chad, Libya and the Central African Republic. The Arabic tribes in Darfur are mostly Nomadic. Not all Arabic tribes were involved in the conflict, notably the largest Arabic tribe, the Rezegat. Likewise, not all African tribes were involved; in fact some African groups, like the Gimir, were victims of the conflict …show more content…
The organization most active, which attributed to him most military operations and its military wing (SLA) headed by the front Sudanese lawyer, a young (Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur) and most of the commanders in the ranks of the movement were former officers in forces Chadian and Sudanese, talking political statements of the Movement for the marginalization hit the province of Darfur and the exclusion of children from the power-sharing, lack of basic services, where, as criticizing the dominance of the so-called (Central Nile) on the fortunes of the Sudan, and calling for autonomy expanded, and the rebuilding of Sudan on new basis, says that the brutal repression and ethnic cleansing, backed by the regimes ruling in Khartoum, leaving the people of Darfur without any option but to resort armed
Introduction:
The protracted conflict in Sudan reflects the long standing economic disparities, political exclusion and social and cultural deprivation in the distribution of political and economic power between the centre and the peripheries. The country inherited from colonialism a highly centralized authoritarian governance system and an uneven pattern of regional development. These structural elements shaped the later evolution of the modern Sudanese state and contributed to the marginalization of the peripheries, especially in the South. Both factors are mutually reinforcing, since in authoritarian systems economic and social development is often dependent on political leverage and access to political power. Without political backing, marginalized groups and regions have only limited access to social and economic services and institutions. The root causes of the communal inter- and intra-tribal and ethicized regional conflicts in Sudan could be seen in the competition over meager and dwindling natural resources and political power positions. The meddling of the Islamist central government in tribal politics aggravated the communal conflicts. Darfur gives an example of the interlink ages and reinforcement of communal, inter-tribal conflicts over access to resources and the national conflict about power and wealth sharing. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed on the 9th January of 2005 formally ended one of the longest and highly violent armed conflicts in Africa. Although it is considered as not inclusive relating to the conflict issues (e.g. Darfur, the East) and the stakeholders (opposition parties, militias, rebel movements and civil society) it can be regarded as an unprecedented window of opportunity to attain a lasting peace in the country. This paper tries to explain and understand the root causes of conflict in Darfur. Overview and Conflict Dynamics: Sudan has been the site of armed conflict and civil unrest for more than half a century, Sudan, Africa’s largest country, it is divided along lines of religion (70 % Muslim, 25% animist, 5 % Christian), ethnicity (African, Arab origin), tribe and economic activity (nomadic and sedentary). Country has been in near constant war since independence in 1956, with most significant conflict between North and South 1956-1972 and 1983-2005 . Loose Ottoman-Egyptian administration collapsed 1880s after revolt led by self-appointed Islamic Mahdi. Anglo-Egyptian forces captured Khartoum 1889, establishing joint-administration. British separated North and South until 1947, giving political power to northern elite before country gained independence January 1956. General Abboud seized power 1958, …show more content…
Some tribes believe that the government was not able to defend them against other tribes and armed criminal gangs who have more sophisticated weapons, which led several nomadic tribes to form their own defense groups
Darfur conflict has been categorized as an inter-communal conflict for generations. However, in the eighties the conflict in Darfur became more vicious and many of them acquired an ethnic dimension, between the Arabs and non-Arab (African) identity groups .
The Fur is the largest ethnic group in Darfur; they are farmers and depend on agriculture. The second largest tribe in this group, the Zaghawa, is mostly nomadic with some sects of the tribe practicing farming. The Zaghawa also exist in Chad, Libya and the Central African Republic. The Arabic tribes in Darfur are mostly Nomadic. Not all Arabic tribes were involved in the conflict, notably the largest Arabic tribe, the Rezegat. Likewise, not all African tribes were involved; in fact some African groups, like the Gimir, were victims of the conflict …show more content…
The organization most active, which attributed to him most military operations and its military wing (SLA) headed by the front Sudanese lawyer, a young (Abdel Wahed Mohamed el-Nur) and most of the commanders in the ranks of the movement were former officers in forces Chadian and Sudanese, talking political statements of the Movement for the marginalization hit the province of Darfur and the exclusion of children from the power-sharing, lack of basic services, where, as criticizing the dominance of the so-called (Central Nile) on the fortunes of the Sudan, and calling for autonomy expanded, and the rebuilding of Sudan on new basis, says that the brutal repression and ethnic cleansing, backed by the regimes ruling in Khartoum, leaving the people of Darfur without any option but to resort armed