• Darfur is a region in northwestern Sudan that is currently home to an armed conflict whose ramifications are widely reported to include genocide. The fighting is taking place between regional militias and the Sudanese government, the forces of which are bolstered by the non-governmental Janjaweed militia.

  During a protest at Sudan's Washington D.C. embassy on April 27, 2009, five Democratic members of congress were arrested for crossing a police line. They included John Lewis, the civil rights movement veteran, and Keith Ellison, the House's sole Muslim representative, as well as Jim McGovern, Lynn Woolsey and Donna Edwards. The congressmen were protesting the forced removal of 16 nongovernmental aid organizations from the ravaged region.Los Angeles Times: Congress members arrested in Darfur protest (April 27, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Region located in northwestern Sudan
  2. Conflict began in February, 2003
  3. Total deaths: Over 400,000DarfurScores.org: Official Site
  4. Total refugees: 2.5 millionDarfurScores.org: Official Site
  5. Rebel groups: Originally mainly Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and National Redemption Front (NRF); the rebel groups have now split into about 30 different groupsLas Vegas Sun: Darfur peace push slowed by splits among rebels (January 5, 2009)
  6. Opposition groups: Sudanese government, Janjaweed militia
  7. Fighting erupted over the government's alleged discrimination of non-Arab citizens and poor economic support
  8. Opposition forces have allegedly employed tactics such as mass murder, rape, starvation and other cruel methods to fight the rebel groupsDarfurScores.org: Official Site
  9. United States has declared the conflict a genocideBBC NEWS: US House calls Darfur 'genocide' (July 23, 2004)
  10. Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, was charged with 10 counts of war crimes, including genocide, on July 14, 2008 by the International Criminal Court
  11. Unlike Sudan's two previous civil wars, fighting in Darfur is motivated mainly by economic and ethnic issues, not religious ones

• International Action

  In 2004, the United States government officially declared that the conflict in Darfur was a genocide. After violence intensified in 2006 the United Nations contributed a 17,300 strong peacekeeping force to support the 7,000 African Union troops already in place.New York Times: U.N. Council Votes to Send Troops to Darfur; Sudan Objects (September 1, 2006)

  The International Criminal Court charged Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, with 10 war crimes, including genocide, on July 14, 2008.

  On January 5, 2009, George W. Bush said he is sending emergency aid to the region. The aid included vehicles and equipment to assist the international peace-keeping mission. Direct involvement by American military is not an option in Darfur because experts have said it would worsen the situation, according to Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser.The New York Times: U.S. Sending Emergency Aid to Darfur (January 5, 2009)

• Peace Talks

  International mediators have been working for a solution to the conflict. In November 2008, President Omar al-Bashir offered a cease-fire and said he would address the demands of key rebel leaders. Most rebel leaders said they would not enter negotiations until the president disarms the Arab military groups involved.Las Vegas Sun: Darfur peace push slowed by splits among rebels (January 5, 2009)

  The U.N. and the African Union were negotiating with rebel leaders in Darfur and abroad in November and December 2008. Negotiations continued in January of 2009. A meeting in Qatar between rebels and Khartoum officials in January 2009 was postponed after some rebel leaders said they would not attend.Las Vegas Sun: Darfur peace push slowed by splits among rebels (January 5, 2009)

• U.S. Special Envoy

  Following a meeting with White House officials on February 23, 2009, actor George Clooney confirmed that President Barack Obama had agreed to appoint a "full-time, high-level envoy" to the region.Politico: Clooney: W.H. to appoint Darfur envoy (February 23, 2009)

• Quotes

  "...genocide has been committed in Darfur and that the Government of Sudan and the Janjaweed bear responsibility—and that genocide may still be occurring."U.S. Department of State: Background Note: Sudan —Colin Powell to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (September 9, 2004)

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