Darfur Conflict, Entrance of the Janjaweed

Category: Genocide

Janjaweed Come into the picture:
On April 25, 2003, the SLA and JEM attack the city of al-Rashir and humiliate the government. The government, after such a toss loss from the raids, counters by mobilizing self defense militia. The government then denies any links to the Janjaweed, a milita group recruited from Arab Baggara tribes. However, with the government's support, the Janjaweed become able to take the upperhand and kill several thousand, mostly non-arabs, and force almost a million to flee as refugees to Chad. These Janjaweed has wiped out entire villages, destroyed resources, raped women and tortured many inhabitants of Darfur.

Important People:
Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan and a military leader.

Victims: Mostly non-Arab (Black-Africans Agrarian farmers, who were members of the Rebel groups, SLM and JEM. These people were targeted because the government sought to get rid of the insurgency. Many civilizians of Arab background were also killed in the air-raids and bombings.

Estimated death toll at this time (2003-2004): Several thousand victims, and a million fled as refugees into Chad.

Additional Thoughts:
Yet again, it is questioned whether the conflict going on is a genocide. Initially, the government sought to fight back the insurgency, but now, many civilian non-Arabs are being killed by the Janjaweed. Even if it may be believed that the initial intent was not genocide, what is going on now is indeed Genocide, for the non-Arabs are being targeted and killed.