While many movements in Darfur are typical rebel movements, the Justice and Equality Movement has evolved into a revolutionary movement with a goal of overthrowing the current regime and fundamentally changing Sudan.
Considering the fact that every post-independence government of Sudan has been ruled by the members of northern “Arab” tribes which represent only about 5% of the entire population and have spent the majority of development funds on the northern part of the country, the change proposed in the JEM's manifesto would indeed be a profound, fundamental, and revolutionary change.
Only time will tell if the Justice and Equality Movement will be able to bring about revolutionary change in Sudan. This will depend on many factors, such as the ability to attract support in other parts of the country, cooperation with other rebel movements, finance, military power, international support, and, in the event of their victory, the implementation of substantial political and/or socioeconomic changes in the country.
Darfur and its people never mattered to the rulers of Sudan, from the British-Egyptian Condominium to the northern Sudanese elites that have ruled the country since independence. Perhaps something radical and revolutionary has to happen at last to change this protracted marginalization.
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?