We thought it was over with Bosnia, Cambodia, and then Rwanda. But no surprise, there is a genocide happening in Darfur right now. Hundreds are dying each day. Thousands are dying each month. How much more can they take? The genocide in Darfur started in 2003 and is still continuing today. The genocide has already taken over 400,000 lives and 2,500,000 are without homes, family, and hope. Nicholas D. Kristof, supporter of stopping the genocide quotes, “The conflict in Darfur could escalate to where we’re seeing 100,000 victims per month. Clearly by seeing the number of civilians already killed and the number of civilians on the brink of death, it’s not hard to say the genocide in Darfur is considered to be one of the world’s worst human rights and humanitarian catastrophes.
The genocide in Darfur has been continuing for the past eight years now, and nobody knows how to stop it. There have been many attempts, but they all clearly failed. In May 2006, there was a peace deal, made by the international community to try and stop the genocide but actually after the deal was made, the violence increased. There aren’t many more people for the Janjaweed to kill, so what happens then?
The Janjaweed, an Arab militia in Darfur, are stealing the lives of thousands every month. The Janjaweed militia first formed in 1988 after Chadian President Hissène Habré, backed by France and the United States, defeated the Libyan army. The Janjaweed, throughout the 90’s, were Arab partisans, who pursued local agendas of controlling land. In 1999-2000, faced with threats of insurgencies in Western and Northern Darfur, Khartoum’s security armed the Janjaweed forces. They are mainly targeting the three non-Arab, rebel groups, the Fur, the Zaghawa, and the Masilit, of which are all Black Africans. The Janjaweed are Arab Africans, so you can see the conflicts start there. These three rebel groups were targeted because two more of their non-Arab groups, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, went against the Sudanese government and said that there was mistreatment by the Arabs in Khartoum. The Janjaweed, obviously wanting to defend themselves, started going after the non-Arabs and so forth began the genocide.
The term “Janjaweed” means “man on a horse with a gun” and is a synonym to “bandit.” The Janjaweed are known for being extremely violent and defensive, hence how this whole problem started. The Janjaweed, like all the other killers in all the other genocides, are fighting for what they believe in, and don’t care about the people they are killing. It is obvious that the militia isn’t going to give up until everybody that can be killed, is killed. Already, almost half of a million people have been killed and over two million are without much chance of surviving.
The rebel groups are being targeted because they are both going for power in Sudan, but the Arab Africans, clearly seeing that they were to the advantage, used that in their defense and the Black Africans didn’t and still don’t have the resources to fight back and reclaim themselves as actual human beings in Darfur. The Janjaweed are not only attacking by themselves, they have a secondary power source, similar to what we know as the air force. Their mission is to first, drop bombs on the cities below, and shortly following come the Janjaweed, on horses and camels, prepared to kill.
Attacks generally follow a familiar pattern: Khartoum Air Force planes bomb from the air to cause chaos in villages; the Janjaweed then race in on horses and camels and African villagers are at random chance, getting raped and killed; villages are burned to the ground, and water wells are contaminated with corpses. Those that escape make their way across the harsh desert refugee camps in neighboring Chad, and there, they are usually stripped of all belongings or personal possessions. Families are frequently separated along the way. In the overcrowded and make-shift camps, malnutrition and disease are out of control. Even with the continuously generous efforts of humanitarian aid workers and African Union soldiers, the victims are not safe, even in the camps. The Janjaweed wait outside the camp boarders, waiting to attack anyone who crosses the boundary lines. Women are repeatedly abducted and either killed or used as sex slaves. Children are routinely kidnapped and forced into sex trade or forced into military service in the many different militias, sometimes even having to kill their own people. But even with all the efforts to try and keep everybody safe in the camps, the camps are usually bombed and destroyed, leaving the sometimes injured, or disease ridden civilians to flee yet again for safety.
But with all the families torn apart, all the innocent civilians who have watched their relatives die, and have to leave them because they want to live too, don’t you think they would want to fight back? The answer is yes, but unfortunately, with so many people dead already, and so many using all their strength just to stay alive, there just aren’t enough people to fight and try to save their people. It’s an unfair attack, with the Janjaweed being supported by the Sudanese government in Khatoum and the sponsor of the Janjaweed militia, also a government; the civilians really don’t have any help. But Americans have a big role in helping stop the issue in Darfur. The US has been very proactive in getting support for the people in Darfur, but there is still much more that needs to be done. Still with hundreds killed each day, it won’t be long before the Janjaweed run out of people to kill.
The victims, or should I say surviving victims, of the genocide right now have no hope. They don’t know if they’re going to live till the next day, if they’re ever going to see their family again, or if they’re anybody in their family is even alive. The Janjaweed don’t care about any of those things. All they care about is destroying the people who are against them, and that’s a lot of people. All that the Janjaweed genuinely care about is themselves. Killing people is their drug, and they’re addicted to it. Bianca Jagger, high school student from Kenston High School quotes, “Killing innocent people is always wrong.” I’m sure most people would agree with that statement as well. As of right now, only the rebels know how to stop the Janjaweed from killing their people, and that’s by killing them all until there’s nobody left, and the Janjaweed don’t have to worry about who their competition is. This is all a game and the Janjaweed are clearly winning.
All in all, the genocide in Darfur is still continuing, and they need help. The Janjaweed are a very overpowering and controlling militia, and it will take a lot to defeat them. I’m not sure if it’s even a possibility to defeat them anymore, but there are ways to help. By donating money for the refugee camps or joining a group to help raise awareness of the situation, any effort can and will benefit the victims in the best way it can. Americans are a big factor in helping stop the genocide that’s going on in Darfur, and in time, the Janjaweed can hopefully be stopped, for good.
· http://worldsavvy.org/monitor/index.php?
· http://www.amnestyusa.org/darfur/darfur-history/page.do?id=1351103
· http://www.amnestyusa.org/darfur/darfur-history/page.do?id=1351103
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog, i thought it was very interesting and learned allot about Darfur just from watching the little video clips you shared. i think it is shocking that so many people died not to long ago and shortly after the genocide in Rwanda. I also find the lack of action by the US to stop the genocide embarrassing. I hope nothing like this ever happens again!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing!
This is a really great blog. I had only heard about the genocide in Darfur but I didn't know much else about it. It's great how you added background to it so I can understand why this genocide is taking place. It's a shame how only the US is helping to stop this and how they're barely doing anything to stop this. If only more countries can come in and help, this whole situation would be over real quick. Great blog you helped me learn a lot. :)
ReplyDeleteHaligahuh,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog very much because I also wrote about the Darfur genocide. It was interesting for me to learn more in depth about a different aspect than what I did. I like how you included your voice in the text and we got a sense of what you thought of the genocide. It wasn't strict factual information and I think that's what made it balanced so well. I think asking your reader questions in the blog was a great idea because it really makes you think about what you believe. The images you used of the victims in Darfur are great because it shows how horribly they are treated. Great Job!
-Taylor :)
I learned a lot about the Janjaweed from your blog, and you did a good job explaining some of their background as well as what they have been, and are currently up to. You incorporated pictures really nicely into your blog and it was really easy to follow because of the layout.
ReplyDeleteIt is terrible to think that even after what had happened in the genocides after WWII, like you mentioned, there is still one going on right now! It’s unfortunate that it will be hard to defeat them.
All of your videos and pictures were really good and your reactions were well written, too.
Good job!