Sudan – Darfur

The world’s first climate-based war, African Muslims against Arab Muslim fundamentalist militias and government regime.
 
Historical background: the conflict is rooted in environmental problems and desertification since the 1980s, fast population growth, political opportunism, breakdown of trust, Islamism, race (Arabic pastoralists vs African farmers) and regional politics within Sudan. It arose after a famine in 1985, which led to breakdown of interethnic balances, particularly between farmers and herders, and growth of social mistrust. Local councils which usually resolved conflicts were disbanded by the Khartoum government, which came to power in a coup in 1989.
 
The rebellion was started in 2003 by two African rebel groups accusing the Arab Muslim Khartoum government of neglect. The government engaged in a proxy war using Janjaweed and other Arab militia, with army backing. Much use of scorched-earth methods - destruction of villages and resources, rape and abduction. Many atrocities committed, with claims of genocide (mainly by USA and some NGOs) - deaths 300,000, plus 200,000 deaths from hunger. 2.5m people displaced (many fled to Chad) - one of the world’s greatest humanitarian disasters.
 
The displaced people are mostly African farmers from the Fur, Zaghawa and Massaleit tribes. The Janjaweed come from Arabic-speaking pastoralist communities, camel-herders in northern Darfur and cattle-herders in southern Darfur. Both the farmers and the pastoralists are Muslim, dark-skinned and have intermarried for centuries. Ethnic cleansing by Khartoum has been intended to reduce support for rebel groups.
 
The international response has been inadequate – under-funding, under-supply and lack of commitment. Much complexity, involving multiple rebel groups, recently conflicting with each other, and implicating two affected neighbouring countries (Chad and CAR).
 

Links:

Wikipedia: Darfur
Reuters Alertnet
Eric Reeves Blog