Conflicts in Africa Conflicts in Africa

Rwanda & DarfurRwanda & Darfur

• United Nations Convention on the Prevention and United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)

““Genocide means any of the following acts committed Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) (a) Killing members Killing members of the group; of the group;

(b) Causing (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm serious bodily or mental harm to groupto group

(c) Deliberately (c) Deliberately inflicting conditions of life inflicting conditions of life calculated calculated to bring to bring about its physical destruction in about its physical destruction in whole or in part; whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births prevent births within the within the group; group;

(e) Forcibly (e) Forcibly transferring children transferring children of the group to of the group to another group.”another group.”

History of the ConflictHistory of the Conflict

• Two major ethnic groups in Two major ethnic groups in RwandaRwanda– Hutus (majority popul. – 85%)Hutus (majority popul. – 85%)– Tutsis (minority of popul. – 14%)Tutsis (minority of popul. – 14%)

• Speak same language, follow Speak same language, follow same traditions, live in same same traditions, live in same areasareas

• So what happened???So what happened???

History of the ConflictHistory of the Conflict

• Rwanda was colonized by Rwanda was colonized by – Germany (1894-1916)Germany (1894-1916)– Belgium (WWI-1962)Belgium (WWI-1962)

• Belgians favored the Tutsis Belgians favored the Tutsis over Hutus over Hutus – Tutsis were more similar to Tutsis were more similar to

EuropeansEuropeans– Tutsis given higher status Tutsis given higher status

(better jobs, housing, & education)(better jobs, housing, & education)– Resentment among Hutu grewResentment among Hutu grew

Conflict GrowsConflict Grows

• Hutus began to form nationalist party in Hutus began to form nationalist party in 19591959– Killings of Tutsi (20,000 in one year)Killings of Tutsi (20,000 in one year)– Tutsi refugees fled to UgandaTutsi refugees fled to Uganda

• Rwanda gained independence from Belgium Rwanda gained independence from Belgium in 1961in 1961– Rwanda becomes its own republic state in 1962Rwanda becomes its own republic state in 1962– Conflict lasting between Hutu government & Conflict lasting between Hutu government &

Tutsi rebelsTutsi rebels– Tutsi refugees form Tutsi refugees form

Rwandan Patriotic Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)Front (RPF)

The Conflict GrowsThe Conflict Grows

• Two extremist Hutu militiasTwo extremist Hutu militias– InterahamweInterahamwe

• ““those who stand together”, “those who those who stand together”, “those who work together”, “those who fight together”work together”, “those who fight together”

• Backed by Hutu gov’tBacked by Hutu gov’t

– ImpuzamugambiImpuzamugambi• ““those who have the those who have the

same goal”same goal”• Hutu miliiaHutu miliia

Fast Forward to 1990s”: Fast Forward to 1990s”: Catalyst to GenocideCatalyst to Genocide

• President Juvenal Habyarimana’s President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane was shot down in April plane was shot down in April 19941994– Responsibility for attack is disputedResponsibility for attack is disputed– Both RPF (Tutsis) & Hutu Both RPF (Tutsis) & Hutu

extremists blamedextremists blamed

The TragedyThe Tragedy

• April 29, 1994 – radio broadcasts urge April 29, 1994 – radio broadcasts urge elimination of Tutsis elimination of Tutsis – 1/71/7thth of population slaughtered of population slaughtered

- Within 2 weeks Within 2 weeks 250,000 Tutsis & moderate 250,000 Tutsis & moderate Hutus killedHutus killed

- 800,000 Rwandans killed between April & July800,000 Rwandans killed between April & July- RPF stated that 1,071,000 were killed, 10% of RPF stated that 1,071,000 were killed, 10% of

which were Hutuwhich were Hutu- African Rights estimates the African Rights estimates the

number “as around 750,000”number “as around 750,000”- Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch at at

least 500,000least 500,000

Aftermath & Continuing Aftermath & Continuing ConflictConflict

• RPF gains control of RPF gains control of provisional gov’tprovisional gov’t– Hutu refugees flee (mainly Hutu refugees flee (mainly

Interahamwe)Interahamwe)• Continue violence against Tutsis in Continue violence against Tutsis in

refugee campsrefugee camps

• International Criminal International Criminal Tribunal for RwandaTribunal for Rwanda

• Was international community Was international community too slow in responding to the too slow in responding to the crisis? crisis?

Darfur, SudanDarfur, Sudan

• Sudan is the Sudan is the largest country largest country by area in Africaby area in Africa

• Darfur is a region Darfur is a region in western Sudan, in western Sudan, approximately approximately the size of Texasthe size of Texas

• 6 million people 6 million people used to live in used to live in DarfurDarfur

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History of Conflict in DarfurHistory of Conflict in Darfur• Sudan’s borders encompass many ethnic and Sudan’s borders encompass many ethnic and

religious groupsreligious groups– North: Arab, MuslimNorth: Arab, Muslim– South: African, ChristianSouth: African, Christian

• Darfur: African, Muslim, Fur, Masalit and Darfur: African, Muslim, Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa tribesZaghawa tribes

• Northern Sudan was constructed without ties to Northern Sudan was constructed without ties to Southern Sudan, and the Darfur region wasn’t Southern Sudan, and the Darfur region wasn’t annexed as a province of Sudan until 1916, annexed as a province of Sudan until 1916, almost 50 years after the North and South were almost 50 years after the North and South were unified.unified.

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History of the Conflict in History of the Conflict in DarfurDarfur

• 1956 Sudan gains independence from 1956 Sudan gains independence from British ruleBritish rule

• Civil war between North and South from Civil war between North and South from 1955-1972 and again from 1983-20021955-1972 and again from 1983-2002

• South Sudanese not represented in South Sudanese not represented in Khartoum governmentKhartoum government

• While oil was discovered in Southern Sudan While oil was discovered in Southern Sudan in the 1970s, the Khartoum government in the 1970s, the Khartoum government demanded all of the oil revenues be demanded all of the oil revenues be funneled to the national governmentfunneled to the national government

• Peace agreement in 2003Peace agreement in 2003UChicago STAND

• In 2003, two In 2003, two rebel groups rebel groups from Darfur rise from Darfur rise up against the up against the Sudanese Sudanese governmentgovernment– Sudanese Liberation Sudanese Liberation

Movement Movement (pictured)(pictured)

– Justice and Equality Justice and Equality Movement Movement

The political aim of the rebel groups is to compel to Sudanese government to address underdevelopment and political marginalization of the region .

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JanjaweedJanjaweed• Sudanese Sudanese

government arms government arms Janjaweed militia, Janjaweed militia, comprised mostly of comprised mostly of members of Arab members of Arab nomadic tribes who nomadic tribes who have been in conflict have been in conflict with settled farmers with settled farmers in Darfur. Janjaweed in Darfur. Janjaweed kill and expel kill and expel Darfurians Darfurians

• Janjaweed has been Janjaweed has been translated as “devil translated as “devil on a horse” in Arabicon a horse” in Arabic

Janjaweed in military fatigues in Geneina.

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Janjaweed TacticsJanjaweed Tactics

• In In addition to addition to killing and killing and expelling expelling members of members of a village, a village, the the Janjaweed Janjaweed burn their burn their food stores food stores so that the so that the survivors survivors cannot cannot return.return.

A government soldier burning the food storage of the villagers in Marla.

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Internally Displaced Persons Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) & Refugees(IDPs) & Refugees

• 2.5 million refugees and IDPs in Sudan and neighboring Chad.2.5 million refugees and IDPs in Sudan and neighboring Chad.

Three generations of farmers, formerly self-sufficient, now

forced to live in a camp.

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• Thousands die each month from the effects of Thousands die each month from the effects of inadequate food, water, health care, and shelter inadequate food, water, health care, and shelter

in a harsh desert environment. Pictured are in a harsh desert environment. Pictured are graves outside and IDP camp.graves outside and IDP camp.

International Responses & International Responses & ChallengesChallenges

• In July 2004, Congress declared the crisis in Darfur In July 2004, Congress declared the crisis in Darfur to be a genocide. In September 2004, on behalf of to be a genocide. In September 2004, on behalf of the U.S. government, Secretary of State Colin the U.S. government, Secretary of State Colin Powell followed suit. Powell followed suit. – First time a genocide declared as such First time a genocide declared as such while in progresswhile in progress

• In February 2005, the U.S. led the U.N. to pass the In February 2005, the U.S. led the U.N. to pass the first resolution to send a peacekeeping mission to first resolution to send a peacekeeping mission to Darfur.Darfur.

• September 2006: U.N. resolution authorizing the September 2006: U.N. resolution authorizing the deployment of 17,000 peacekeepers with a deployment of 17,000 peacekeepers with a Chapter VII mandate to protect.Chapter VII mandate to protect.– But only with the consent of the Sudanese government.But only with the consent of the Sudanese government.– Sudanese government adamantly refuses to consent, as they are Sudanese government adamantly refuses to consent, as they are

sponsoring the genocide. sponsoring the genocide.

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International Responses & International Responses & ChallengesChallenges

• Currently 7,000 African Union Currently 7,000 African Union troops on the ground. This is the troops on the ground. This is the size of the police force of Dallas size of the police force of Dallas in a region the size of Texasin a region the size of Texas– Insufficient mandate to actively protect Insufficient mandate to actively protect

civilians civilians – Under-fundedUnder-funded– Lacking training and technologyLacking training and technology– Lacking manpower – overstretchedLacking manpower – overstretched

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International Responses & International Responses & ChallengesChallenges

• China, Russia, Malaysia and India’s China, Russia, Malaysia and India’s investments in Sudanese oil fund the investments in Sudanese oil fund the Khartoum government’s perpetuation of Khartoum government’s perpetuation of genocide. genocide. • China and Russia are also on the United Nation’s China and Russia are also on the United Nation’s

security councilsecurity council

• The US Congress has passed significant The US Congress has passed significant pieces of legislation on Darfur. These pieces of legislation on Darfur. These include funding for peacekeepers in Darfur include funding for peacekeepers in Darfur and reauthorization of economic sanctions and reauthorization of economic sanctions against Sudan. against Sudan.

• Connection with Sudan in war on terrorConnection with Sudan in war on terror

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South Sudan Becomes South Sudan Becomes IndependentIndependent

• Republic of South Sudan – 2011Republic of South Sudan – 2011– Capital = JubaCapital = Juba

• Disputes still remainDisputes still remain

"Justice, Liberty, Prosperity"

Salva Kiir Mayardit, the first elected President of South Sudan. His trademark hat was a gift from then-President of the US George W. Bush

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What can be done?What can be done?

SourcesSources

•UChicago STAND (A Student Anti- UChicago STAND (A Student Anti- Genocide Coalition)Genocide Coalition)•New Jersey Darfur CoalitionNew Jersey Darfur Coalition•HistoryWorld.netHistoryWorld.net•www.filmeducation.orgwww.filmeducation.org