Why does a solution to the conflict in Darfur seem so intractable?

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/12/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

International relations

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Summary :

Introduction
The last decades
The situation in Darfur
The conflict
The government and aggravating the conflict
The present response to the Darfur conflict
The existence of oil reserves and fertile soils
Conclusion
References

Abstract

In September 2004, one year after the beginning of the civil war in Sudan, Colin Powell said it was ''genocide''. Since the beginning of the war, many associations were created in order to 'Save darfur'. darfur has recently been one of the most publicized wars in Africa, however, the conflict is still not resolved and today, it is estimated that 200 people die every day as a consequence of the conflict, either because of diseases or starvation.

Besides that, the United Nations approved many resolutions sending troops to darfur, a cease-fire was signed in 2004, and the International Criminal Court issued two warrants of arrest in May 2007. But none of these have stopped the conflict yet. It seems clear that despite a widespread media coverage and diplomatic agitation, no solution has yet proved effective in the resolution of darfur's conflict. darfur region borders Chad and the Central African Republic, comprising five to six million people and remaining largely underdeveloped. This region is home to four main tribes: the Furs, which gave the name to darfur (meaning in Arabic ''Fur's home''), the Massaleits, the Arabs, and the Zaghawas.

The last decades have seen much civil wars and unrest in the region. The first conflict took place from 1987 to 1989, and was mainly the result of ethnic tensions between Furs and Arabs. In this first conflict, the central government did not seem to play a role in the confrontations. The second, from 1996 and 1998, between the Massaleits and Arabs was over Massaleits' territory. The last conflict that we still witness today begun in 2003. The key event seen as the trigger of the civil war was the attack and occupation of Gulu on the 10th of February, 2003 by the rebel groups Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). They were asking for a better share of resources and wealth. In response, Khartum led an aerial attack and let the Janjaweed slaughter the local populations. Since then, slaughters, pillages and rapes have been going on in darfur. why does a solution in darfur seem so hard to find and realize?