In 2003, a conflict broke out in Sudan's western province of Darfur between the mainly “African” rebels and the government forces and their proxy “Arab” militias. It is estimated that about 200,000 people have died in the conflict from fighting, disease, and starvation.
The UN and aid agencies estimate that over two million Darfurians, out of a population of about six million, are living in refugee camps in Darfur and neighboring countries. Even though the majority of all deaths in Darfur occurred in 2003 and 2004, the conflict is nowhere near the end.
When the rebellion broke out, the two rebel movements, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), declared that their primary goals were to end the economic, social, and political marginalization of Darfur, the Sudanese province that has been completely neglected and marginalized since 1917, when it was annexed by the British colonial forces and added to Sudan.
After a few years of fighting and human suffering, the Sudanese government and one faction of the SLM signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in 2006, while another SLM faction and the JEM refused to sign it. Signing of the DPA, instead of bringing peace, only intensified fighting and deteriorated the humanitarian situation in Darfur.
When the Darfur Peace Agreement failed to bring peace and the government refused to deliver any of the provisions it pledged to implement, such as disarmament of the Janjaweed militias, protection of civilians, ceasefire, and deployment of UN/AU troops, the main aim of the Justice and Equality Movement became regime change.
The JEM's manifesto calls for “justice and equality in place of social injustice and political tyranny; radical and comprehensive constitutional reform that would guarantee the regions their rights in ruling the country; basic services for every Sudanese, and balanced economic and human development in all regions of the country.”
In late 2006, the JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim said, “we cannot bring peace to Darfur unless we change this government.” The JEM leadership believes that the current Sudanese regime is “the main obstacle to finding peace to the whole Sudan problem, not only Darfur.” One of the JEM commanders said in a recent interview that the JEM's goal is to change the regime and make dramatic changes in Sudan, adding that “power and wealth must be shared equally in all the marginalized areas.”
Article comments
1 - sam
With all due respect this article is a load of bull. The only reason it was written is because it talks about changing the government. First of all JEM movement is an Islamic fundamentalist movement founded by Mr. Al Turabi and if the author doesnt who he his i suggest he do some home work. It only started talking about change to get Western support. Second the arabs of sudan dont make up 5% of the population, they are well over 50%. Half of darfur is made up of arabs, thats where the fighting is. Arab tribes Vs darfuri tribes. So get your facts right before enlightening us with your ignorance.
2 - Savo Heleta
sam, I suggest you read the article first before you write crap.
I never said that the Arabs make up 5% of the population in Sudan. I said that the members of northern "Arab" tribes that have ruled Sudan since independence represent only about 5% of the entire population.
I know that Turabi has influenced the leadership of JEM, but I also know that he has not founded the JEM. At least there is no credible evidence that this happened - read Alex de Waal, Julie Flint, Gerard Prunier, and other experts...
Many Darfurians who were brought into the Sudanese Islamist movement by Turabi in the 1990s decided to leave their government posts when Turabi was dismissed by Bashir in 1999. Some of them later formed the Justice and Equality Movement and began the Darfur rebellion.
You say the JEM is an Islamist movement. So what? Does this mean they can't have fundamentally different views to those of the governing northern elites?