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Sudan: The Economics of Ethnic Cleansing

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Sudan: The Economics of Ethnic Cleansing

Posted by Enough Team on August 8, 2013

Enough Project Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Carine Umuhumuza, [email protected]
 
WASHINGTON – Economic imperatives are now a major driving force for escalating violence in Darfur, says a new Enough Project report. Based on research from a recent trip to the region, the report confirms that the Sudanese government is sponsoring violent clashes to strategically pacify restless janjaweed militias and consolidate economic control over Darfur’s rich natural resources.
 
While many accept the government’s narrative, which frames the latest rounds of fighting as the product of inter-tribal rivalries, the Enough Project’s report, “The Economics of Ethnic Cleansing in Darfur”, co-authored by John Prendergast, Omer Ismail, and Akshaya Kumar confirms the Sudanese government’s role in using violence to systematically create and maintain instability in Darfur. 
 
Since the height of genocide in 2003-2005, the government of Sudan has relied on militia groups, acting as proxies, to carry out the regime’s security interests in Darfur where Sudan Armed Forces are weak. In recent years, the government budget has declined, leaving the Sudanese government unable to fulfill patronage obligations. To appease weakened alliances and loyalty among militia groups, the regime now secures its interests by allowing these militias to loot and pillage with complete impunity and keep the spoils as a form of compensation.
 
Omer Ismail, Darfuri Activist and Enough Project Senior Advisor states:
 
"As the regime struggles to stay afloat economically and pacify Janjaweed militias looking for greater compensation, Sudanese government officials are increasingly willing to fan the flames of violence, even against some of their traditional allies. The refugees we talked to in Chad explained that the ‘chameleon is switching its colors’. Now, for economic reasons, government- backed Arab militias are even attacking other Arab communities."
 
Competing Arab groups have clashed in the past. However, the patterns of recent violence reveal that the systematic nature of attacks aligns with Khartoum’s underlying strategy: consolidating control of Darfur’s economy and appeasing Janjaweed militias that the government needs for its fight against the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front.  The report states that a closer look at  the common threads of economic motivations for militia groups and the Sudanese government's patronage networks reveals that motives are visible, as follows: 
 

● North Darfur's gold: Long-favored Abbala tribe cleared the Jebel Amer gold mining area of traditional Beni Hussein custodians but then grew dissatisfied and declared their own rebellion.

● South Darfur's gum arabic: Beni Halba cleared gum arabic producing areas of Gimr with support of second vice president.

● Central Darfur's arable land: Ali Kosheib's Taaysha pushed Salamaat off their land with support from Minister of Finance.

● Nyala clashes: In a rare fissure, Janjaweed and National Security and Intelligence Service forces clashed in South Darfur following a dispute over spoils from an extortion scheme.

By pitting regional groups against each other, Khartoum has been able to seize lucrative resources throughout the region while attributing violence to historical tribal conflicts. Now, clashes between tribes regularly occur around the gold mines in North Darfur, gum arabic groves in South Darfur and fertile lands of Central Darfur, often driving out civilian populations and destroying towns.
 
John Prendergast, Enough Project Co-Founder states:
 
"Crafting a durable solution to the unfolding human catastrophe in Darfur requires understanding the economic drivers of the violence. Khartoum is spurring an array of revitalized Janjaweed militias to grab fertile land, consolidate control over gold mines, manipulate reconciliation conferences for increased “blood money,” expand protection rackets and exploit smuggling networks with impunity. Civilians are suffering the consequences"
 
The latest ethnic-cleansing campaign has displaced more than 300,000 Darfuris since the beginning of this year and forced more than 75,000 to seek refuge in neighboring Chad, the largest population displacement in recent years. 
 
Akshaya Kumar, Sudan and South Sudan Policy Analyst states:
 
"The Sudanese government's continued inaction in the face of systematic ethnic cleansing campaigns is a clear failure of its responsibility to protect its own. Now it won't even allow refugee aid workers into the country. When a state won't fulfill its duties to its people, the international community's responsibility to act is triggered."
 
The report concludes that peace efforts in Darfur since the mid-2000s have intensified conflict instead of reducing it. Real solutions, the authors write, will only come if the United States and its international partners can play a major role in helping construct a new comprehensive national peace process that replaces the region-specific initiatives, and addresses the core issues that drive violence in Darfur, and include the interests of the rebels and general population. 
 
Read the full report,“The Economics of Ethnic Cleansing in Darfur”: https://enoughproject.org/files/Economics-of-Ethnic-Cleansing-in-Darfur.pdf
 
View or download imagery from the report on Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/enoughproject/sets/72157634424204377/
 
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The Enough Project is a project of the Center for American Progress to end genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses on the crises in Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Congo, and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Enough conducts intensive field research, develops practical policies to address these crises, and shares sensible tools to empower citizens and groups working for change. To learn more about Enough, go to www.enoughproject.org.