Conflict in Darfur
Over 400,000 lives have been lost since 1997
The crisis continues unabated
The conflict in Darfur began in February 2003 when two local rebel groups -- the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLA) – demanded a greater share of wealth and power from Sudan’s Arab-dominated government.
In response, President Omar al-Bashir’s administration sent troops and armed Arab militias, the Janjaweed, to attack those believed to support the rebels. The Janjaweed have been accused of significant human rights violations, including mass killing, looting, and systematic rape of the non-Arab population. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court demanded the arrest of al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
