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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008) |
Darfur (Arabic: دار فور daar foor, lit. "home of the Fur people") is a region in Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur which are coordinated by a Transitional Darfur Regional Authority. Due to the Darfur Conflict, the region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency since 2003.
The rainy season is from June through September, transforming much of the region from dusty brown to verdant green. As much of the population of Darfur is agricultural, the rains are vital. In normal years, pearl millet, a mainstay crop is ready to be harvested by November. Once harvested, the dry stalks may be fed to domestic livestock. In the far northern desert, years may pass between rainfall. In the far south, annual average rainfall is 700 mm and many trees remain green year-round.[1]
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Scarce natural resources are a cause of fighting among the people of the largely nomadic north of Darfur and the farmers who inhabit the south.
The president of the country, Omar al-Bashir, an Arabic speaking black African, with affiliation to the north, has backed a mercenary group, the Janjaweed, to flush out, by many controversial means, the rebels who operate from the midst of southern farmers.
This conflict has often been erroneously characterized as one between races (Arabs versus blacks), when in reality both sides of the conflict are represented by blacks, with the people of the north being mainly nomads and Arabic speaking, and the people of the south being farmers and non-Arabic speaking.citation needed There have been reports of torture, rapes and murders. Some even go so far as amputating limbs of victims as a warning to others. Certain circles have applied the term "genocide".
Many Darfurians have fled to Chad and UN forces are attempting to send food by air, but the Janjaweed have proved to be an obstruction in many instances.
China has been accused of supporting the economy of Sudan, with Omar al-Bashir using some of the money for purchases of weapons, food, vehicles, and whatever else they need to maintain control of the natural resources in Darfur. However China is far from the only nation having an impact on Sudan. India is also an important buyer of Sudanese oil. In 2006, Japan purchased more oil from Sudan than any other single country.[1]