CRISIS IN SUDAN

A focus on Darfur:

WHERE: Darfur is a region in western Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries.

THE CRISIS: Government-supported Arabic militiamen are terrorizing ethnic Africans who are trying to assert their independence.

THE TOLL: About 200,000 people are believed to have died since 2003.

REFUGEES: Several million people have been displaced, many fleeing to refugee camps in the neighboring country of Chad.

ACCUSATIONS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING

After years of civil war, the most recent crisis began about 3½ years ago when ethnic African rebel groups began seeking more autonomy in the Darfur region.

In retaliation, the coalition Sudanese government has been accused of unleashing Arab militiamen known as janjaweed. The janjaweed covet ethnic Africans’ land and herds and have been blamed for widespread atrocities against the ethnic Africans, including rapes and killings.

Despite a May peace deal signed by the government and one of the three ethnic African rebel groups, the violence seems to be increasing, observers say. And refugee camps are swelling with people afraid to return home. Read more >>>