Decades of low-level tribal clashes over land and water in Sudan’s Western Darfur region erupted into large-scale violence in early 2003 when ethnic African tribes took up arms, accusing the Arab-dominated central government of neglect. The Sudanese government is accused of responding by unleashing Arab tribal militias known as Janjaweed to murder and rape civilians and lay waste to villages. The government denies the charge.
An estimated 180,000 people have died in the conflict — many from hunger and disease — and about 2 million others have been displaced.
— Associated Press
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
