The Darfur Conflict in Sudan

Darfur children

Darfur Population: perhaps 6,000,000

Horrible Torture, Death and Destruction in Darfur

Darfur, in the desert region of western Sudan, has been the scene of much horrible torture, death, and destruction in the past few years. For centuries the settled farmers and nomadic herder tribes in the area coexisted peacefully, both speaking Arabic as a trade language and with extensive ethnic intermarriage among the tribes. Recently, however, conflict has risen over access to water and grazing land between the more settled "African" farmers and some of the "Arab" herder tribes.

To Islamicise the Region of Darfur

The present crisis began in April 2003 when an armed group of Darfurian rebels, desiring autonomy for their region, attacked a Sudanese government force in Darfur, resulting in the death of over 100 soldiers. Afterwards the Sudanese government supported the Janjaweed ("armed men on horseback") armed militia against the rebels. The militia is composed of people mainly from the nomadic and semi-nomadic Baggara tribe, also known as the Shuwa Arabs. The Sudanese government has given the Janjaweed logistical and military support, including air strikes against farmer villages. These activities seem to be part of an effort to more thoroughly Islamicise the region and crush any hopes of Darfurian autonomy.

Millions Could Perish in Darfur

In 2005 the United Nations estimated that 180,000 had died and over 1.8 million people had been displaced from their homes in this conflict. About 200,000 people have fled to neighboring Chad. Hundreds of villages with populations in the thousands have been burned to the ground. The systematic nature of this campaign has been confirmed by eyewitness accounts. The UN World Food Programme estimated that up to 3.5 million people faced famine in Darfur in the autumn of 2005. It is uncertain what the situation will be in 2007. Many of the refugees are asking why other Muslims are treating them so badly, ultimately even questioning Islam.

Witchcraft

Few Darfurians have heard the gospel. Their only knowledge of Jesus is that he was a prophet like Mohammed. The practice of animism and witchcraft is common among the Darfurians. The region is one of the least evangelized areas on earth, with fewer than 50 known believers among all Darfur's tribes (2005 figure), these few being the hope for the future of Darfur.

This is Sudan

Prayer requests:

* Pray for peace in Darfur at all levels: international efforts, Sudanese efforts, and inter-tribal efforts.

* Ignorance and poverty are major problems for the Darfur, leading to tribal conflicts, banditry, and violence. Pray for laborers who can bring reconciliation, solutions to enduring problems, and salvation.

* Pray that the Spirit of God will inspire and motivate the people of Darfur and prepare them to receive the Word with humility.

* Pray that the works of the kingdom of darkness involving Islam, animism, and sorcery will be exposed, bringing freedom.

* Ministry is needed for the widows and orphans left destitute from the conflict. Pray for people and teams to work with them.

Background on Sudan (World Factbook)

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972, but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 4 million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in with the signing of several accords; a final Naivasha peace treaty of January 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, after which a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003 has resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and nearly 2 million displaced; as of late 2005, peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad, and armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.

Economy of Sudan

Chronic instability - resulting from the long-standing civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural prices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years. Agricultural production remains Sudan's most important sector despite exports of crude oil.

About Sudan

Largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

Population: 41,236,378 (July 2006 est.) 39,379,358 (July 2007 est.) 40,218,455 (July 2008 est.) 41,087,825 (July 2009 est.) World Rank #30

Life Expectancy at Birth: 51.42 years. World Rank #204

Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)

Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of "Arabization" in process

Literacy: 61.1% male: 71.8% female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

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