Sudan: August 23, 2004

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Government controlled media is pushing the possibility of infidel (non-Moslem) troops invading Sudan, not the reason why (the continued attacks on non-Arab civilians in Darfur.) The subject of the death and destruction among the non-Arab people of Darfur is pitched as well deserved punishment for supporting rebels. The Darfur rebels are demanding more even handed treatment of non-Arab tribes in Darfur (the government tends to favor the Arab tribes) and a share of the oil wealth from the fields in southern Sudan (the government has agreed to split that oil wealth with the non-Arab tribes of southern Sudan, where the oil fields are.) The non-Arab tribes of Darfur see themselves as being left out of the economic boom expected from the oil income. Now they are being driven off their land as well by the Arab dominated government of Sudan.  

The UN, because of  the opposition of Arab nations, will not impose sanctions on Sudan, and will not authorize a peacekeeping force. Any attempt by Western nations to send troops into Darfur to try and save the lives of the refugees is being described, by the Arab media,  as another attack on a Moslem nation. The attempt by the African Union to send in peacekeepers is also being opposed by Sudan, which probably feels that they could militarily defeat any attempt by African peacekeepers to fight their way into Darfur. The only hope for the non-Arab population in Darfur is the bad publicity the government gets. The video and reports of the abuse the non-Arab population in Darfur is receiving, is impossible to completely dismiss. So the government has agreed to at least go through the motions of trying to do something to ease the violence in Darfur. So far, it's mostly a game to the government, which is largely pretending to do something. 

 

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