What is Darfur?

As a activist I do everything that I can to make sure people are at least aware of what is happening in Darfur but this doesn't mean that I am stopping everybody passing me by everyday, waving a banner with megaphone in tow. At least not everyday.

I tend to take the more subtle approach by casually bringing it up one way or another in conversation. This is more my style and allows me to ease them in to the topic. But almost every time I bring up the topic of Darfur to someone I get the same question;

Them: "So what you been up too"

Me: "Been busy with the family stuff, remodeling the house, and working on my Darfur activism"

Them: "What is Darfur"

What is Darfur. Really? Has it gotten that bad? Not only do most people not know what is going on there but they don't even know that its is a place not a thing.

According to the 2005 Tyndall Report, two years after the conflict started, the three major networks (ABC, NBC, & CBS) spent just a meager total of 26 minutes on the bloodshed. By contrast, Martha Stewart's woes and trip to the joint received 130 minutes, five times as much. I am sad to report to things haven't gotten any better since.

In 2007 the big three increased the number of total minutes that the Darfur genocide got by 5 whole minutes giving it a total of 31 minutes (ABC 19, CBS 3, NBC 9) of tv time.

In 2008, things got even worse. The big three spent a total of 11 minutes (ABC 7, CBS 0, NBC 4) on the topic of Darfur. 11 minutes. Gov. Rod Blagojevich got 122 minutes in 2008 and the millions suffering in Darfur get 11 minutes.

So yes, it has gotten that bad, people simply do not know and I am going to try to help by providing you with the basics. I will break it down it down into the classic who, what, where, when, how, and why but for the sake of time, today I will provide you with 3 of these classifications, the Where, What and Who. In next few days I will get you the rest.

Please use the links provided through out this blog to learn more about the topic.

So here we go;

WHERE (is Darfur):

The far western region of Sudan, bordering the Central African Republic, Libya, and Chad. Covering an area of approximately 197,000 square miles, Darfur is slightly smaller then Texas, larger then California, and 90% the size of France. It is divided into three federal states: Gharb Darfur (West Darfur), Janub Darfur (South Darfur), and Shamal Darfur (North Darfur). Its main towns are Al Fashir, Nyala and Geneina.

WHAT (is happening there):

In 2003, two rebel groups citing years of political, economic and social marginalization by the government, took arms and led a series of successful attacks. The Sudanese government responded by unleashing its own military and its supported Janjaweed militias on a genocidal campaign targeting not just rebel groups but the civilian populations of Darfur and killing them indiscriminately.


The governments "scorched earth" campaign first uses their Russian made Antonovs fighter jets and anti-tank helicopters to bomb and attack villages indiscriminately killing men, women, and children. When that was done the government supported and funded Janjaweed militias come in and burn the villages to the ground; they kill or steal all the live stock, and destroy anything that the people leave behind. They gang rape the women, regardless of age, and the males, infants to elderly, are tortured and killed. Those that do escape have nothing to come back to thus permanently removing them from the region.

Though we will never know any exact number, reports state that this conflict has already claimed the lives of some 300,000 people in Sudan and the number of displaced people has soared well into the millions as people flee the violence into Internal Displaced People (IDP) camps in Sudan and the refugee camps on the eastern border just inside Chad.

WHO (is involved):

Since the start of the conflict in 2003 the number of rebel groups involved has grown as division among them has caused them to fracture into separate groups and in some cases fight among themselves. Today the major rebel groups involved are:

1. J.E.M. (Justice and Equality Movement): The largest and most militarily significant rebel group in Darfur.

2. S.L.A. (Sudan Liberation Army) led by Abdel Wahid: A waining faction rebel movement led by Abdel Wahid who currently lives in excile in Paris, France.

3. S.L.A. led by Minni Minawi: Another faction of the once strong S.L.A., this faction has lost considerable support after signing a agreement with the government giving Minawi the title of "Senior Assistant" to President Al Bashir.

More to come later....

What is Darfur?