The Causes, consequences and implications of Darfur Conflict

The Darfur conflict was known as one of the most tragic crises in Sudan’s history. However, the conflict in Darfur is not a new phenomenon. Since the 1960’s a copious number of nomadic pastoralists and sedentary tribes in the region have fought violently over scarce natural resources, these problems later resolved through the local reconciliation system. The current crisis was sparked in 2003 by armed opposition groups (rebels), they accused the central government of excluding their regions and people from wealth and power-sharing as well as development processes. They also engaged with local authorities in violent conflict leading to many deaths. The Sudanese Government accused the rebels and the Western media of distorting the realities of this conflict to serve their political agenda. Currently the conflict has taken a new direction, some armed rebel groups are turning against each another and other groups are splitting into smaller factions. Overall the crisis has created controversy and heated debate. There are on-going questions about the causes, consequences and potential solutions to the crisis, and who are the mutually trusted partners who may contribute to resolving the problems. There are also concerns that this conflict might lead to the separation of Darfur from Sudan, similar to South Sudan’s path. To contribute to this debate and offer further understanding of this crisis this article will trace the history of the conflict, examine the actions of primary actors and explore potential solutions. The article draws on Arabic resources and findings from fieldwork research conducted during 2014, which focused on the roles of local non-government organisations in promoting peace and stability in Darfur.