In Darfur: The Ambiguous Genocide, Gerard Prunier argues that the change of the central government is perhaps the only way of solving the Darfur conflict and decades of marginalization of Sudan's peripheries.
In the beginning of May 2008, the JEM forces mounted an attack on the Sudanese capital, the first attack by a Darfur rebel group outside Darfur. The attack failed, but showed the JEM's determination to change the regime. Many analysts emphasize “the psychological importance of the attack,” adding that this is the first time in many decades that the fighting has reached the capital. Even though the JEM's attack did not succeed, it exposed the “weakness of security in Khartoum and the vulnerability of the regime.”
Alex de Waal, the leading international expert on Sudan, described the JEM's attack on the capital as a “bid for power.” He added that he believes that other rebel movements in Darfur “don't share that ambition ... they want peace for their places rather than wanting power in Khartoum for themselves.”
In the aftermath of the attack, the JEM's leader Khalil Ibrahim said that this was “just a rehearsal for the attacks to come, and we will continue to attack till we change this regime.” Alex de Waal believes that the aim of the attack “was nothing less than taking power” and adds that Khalil Ibrahim “seems truly to believe that he can instigate a popular uprising of Sudan's black majority” against the ruling elite in Khartoum.
Analysts say that the JEM's leader possesses grand ambitions and growing military strength. Sharing the same ethnic background as the leadership of neighboring Chad, the JEM has been the main beneficiary of Chadian support for the Darfur rebels. This support has been the main reason the JEM “has become, militarily, the most powerful faction on the ground in Darfur.”
Rebellion is an armed struggle against an oppressive regime. Revolutions involve a defeat of a current regime through violent means, replacement by a new regime, and implementation of major political and/or socio-economic changes to the system. Revolutionary movements aim to overthrow a ruling regime, take power, and fundamentally change the structure of a society.
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?