C.A.D.A.I.S

The Current Events in Darfur and the Future of Sudan

For anyone who has an idea about the making of today’s Sudan and the country’s post-independence political history, the current breakout of violence in Darfur was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. Decades of severe underdevelopment, famines, environmental degradation, arms proliferation, looting, and bloody tribal clashes have had a tragic toll on the people of the region. Yet, to the credit of the Darfurians, carrying arms against the central government was never their first option. Instead, Darfur post-independence political movements continued to date to advocate federalism within a united Sudan, rightfully seeing the region’s problems as rooted in chronic underdevelopment. While the emergence of the current armed rebellion in the region indeed signifies a new shift in tactics on their part, it also redefines the real nature of Sudan’s governance dilemma and how we shamefully failed to do something about it.

While the peace talks between the government and the SPLM are on the verge of a final peace agreement, it is truly disheartening to see how the Darfur conflict is rapidly turning into another full-fledged war in Sudan. The air bombardment by the government on villages and innocent civilians killed many and created a very dangerous humanitarian situation both in Darfur and in neighboring Chad. The government’s insistence on a military solution for the problem is extremely disturbing because it shows that it did not really change its old oppressive and authoritarian ways. This is particularly alarming given the fact that the country is embarking on a very critical era in its history: If a peaceful and democratic transformation is to successfully take hold in Sudan, it is necessary that every party in the country works for peace. This does not seem to be the government’s priority. But it should be the international community’s. Otherwise, Sudan might disintegrate to an even more dangerous level.