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Darfur Conflict

Darfur
Freshly displaced Darfuris await the arrival of the UN relief coordinator Jan Egeland in the rebel held town of Gereida in southern Darfur, 07 May 2006.
AFP/Getty
North-south conflict to be emphasis of new U.S. policy on Sudan
The Obama administration's new policy toward Sudan, formally announced Monday, turns the spotlight back on where the troubled nation's problems first began: the split between the Islamic north and the largely animist and Christian south.
 

At a Glance

Since gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has spent all but about 10 years in internal armed conflict.

Darfur-Sudan Conflict

THE REGION: Largely arid plateau in western Sudan about three-quarters the size of Texas with a population estimated at about 8 million.

HISTORY OF CONFLICT: Decades of low-level tribal clashes over land and water erupted into large-scale violence in early 2003 when some in the region took up arms, accusing the central government of neglect.

VICTIMS: Government authorities are accused of responding to the uprising with aerial bombings and Arab tribal militias known as Janjaweed, who murdered and raped civilians and destroyed villages. Khartoum officials deny backing Janjaweed.

SCOPE OF TRAGEDY: United Nations says Darfur fighting has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. Chaos has spread to neighboring Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Darfur refugees are sheltering. Estimates say 180,000 people have died, many from deprivation; about 2 million are displaced.

PEACE TALKS: The African Union has deployed peacekeepers to Darfur and sponsored two years of peace talks that resulted in a cease-fire.

Special Report

ALT TEXT

A Widening Crisis

Video journalist Travis Fox documents the growing humanitarian crisis in eastern Chad, where violence is spilling over from neighboring Darfur, Sudan.

Panel Blog

PostGlobal

A Conversation on Global Issues David Ignatius and Fareed Zakaria moderate a discussion of global issues by leading thinkers from around the world. Editor's Inbox: Cranking Up the Heat on Khartoum »

"There is plenty of blame to go around in the continuing crisis in Darfur. But the stalemate over the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping operation to the ravaged region in Sudan can be traced directly to the international community's failure to apply strong diplomatic and economic pressure on senior officials of the ruling National Congress Party..."
Gallery
/world/photo New Threats Loom in Darfur
Five years after the Darfur conflict began, the nature of violence has changed dramatically. The one-sided government campaign against non-Arabs is now a complex free-for-all fight that is jeopardizing the relief mission to more than 2.5 million displaced civilians across the desert region.
Gallery
From the Archives
Post photographer Jahi Chikwendiu traveled to Darfur in 2004 to document Sudan's humanitarian crisis and life in the region's refugee camps.
Gallery
world/photo A Complicated Crisis
As the chaos in Darfur, Sudan, extends into neighboring Chad, a rapidly increasing number of civilians are becoming caught in a violent conflict between a complicated web of rebel forces.
Gallery
/metro Rally For Darfur
Thousands gathered April 30 on the National Mall to protest the genocide in Sudan.
Too Soon To Return Home, Say Darfurians: Displaced Question U.S. Envoy's Advice (Post, August 6, 2009)
 
Ruling Signals Compromise On Border Dispute in Sudan (Post, July 23, 2009)
 
International Court Under Unusual Fire: Africans Defend Sudan's Indicted Leader (Post, June 30, 2009)
 
White House Boosts Effort to Salvage North-South Peace in Sudan (Post, June 24, 2009)
 
Sudan's 'Coordinated' Genocide in Darfur Is Over, U.S. Envoy Says (Post, June 18, 2009)
 
With Rivals in Key Posts, U.S. Faces Hurdles at U.N. (Post, February 22, 2009)
 
White House Defends Its Peace Efforts In Darfur: Administration Plans To Airlift Equipment (Post, January 6, 2009)
 
U.S. Will Push U.N. for Somalia Mission: Peacekeeping Force Proposed to Stop Pirates, Reemergence of Islamist Militants (Post, December 14, 2008)
 
Report Gives Obama Advice on Handling Genocide Threats (Post, December 8, 2008)
 
U.N. Urged to Persist With Sudan Leader's War Crimes Case (Post, December 4, 2008)
 
ICC Warrants Sought for 3 Sudanese Rebel Chiefs (Post, November 21, 2008)
 
Low-Profile U.N. Chief Struggles as Diplomatic Peacemaker (Post, September 29, 2008)
 
A Bumpy Engagement With the U.N.: Bush Leaves Legacy of Fractious Diplomacy and Modest Successes (Post, September 23, 2008)
 
Rice and Gaddafi Hammer at Wall Built by Decades of Animosity (Post, September 6, 2008)
 
Sudanese Troops Attack Darfur Refugee Camp: Up to 27 Civilians Reported Killed in Ensuing Gun Battle (Post, August 26, 2008)
 
Field Notes: In Khartoum, a Surreally Mundane Experience (Post, August 3, 2008; 8:35 PM)
 
Hu Asserts World's Confidence in China (Post, August 2, 2008)
 
China Set To Protect Olympics: Terrorism, Protests Get Equal Priority (Post, July 25, 2008)
 
3 Olympic 'Protest Pens' Planned for Beijing Parks (Post, July 24, 2008)
 
China Is Growing Unfriendly to Foreigners, Visitors Say (Post, July 19, 2008)
 
China Expresses 'Grave Concern' Over Indictment of Sudan's Bashir (Post, July 16, 2008)
 
Sudan Vows to Fight Charges Of Genocide Against Its Leader: Move by Court Brings Cheers in Darfur Camps (Post, July 15, 2008)
 
7 Troops Killed In Sudan Ambush: Gunmen Besiege Peacekeepers in Northern Darfur (Post, July 10, 2008)
 
Around the World, Activists Assemble to Press China on Rights (Post, July 9, 2008)
 
More News
Discussions: Conflict in Darfur

Transcript: Darfur Peace Conference (Ellen Knickmeyer, October 29, 2007; 11:00 AM)


Sudan Leader To Be Charged With Genocide: Peace Efforts in Darfur Could Be Hampered, Some U.N. Officials Fear (Richard Dicker, July 11, 2008; 1:00 PM)

Transcript: Darfur's Human Disaster (Simon Crittle, June 20, 2007; 10:00 AM)

Books: 'Children at War': Young Soldiers Used in Conflicts Around the World (P. W. Singer, June 12, 2006; 1:00 PM)

Transcript: Local Faith-Based Groups Act on Darfur Crisis (David Rubenstein, August 8, 2005; 11:00 AM)
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