Middle East and North Africa: Sudan & Darfour Conflict

Darfur, derived from Arabic meaning "the abode of the Fur," diverged from the conventional states lining the upper Nile valley, establishing itself as an autonomous sultanate during the 14th century. The migration of the Banu Hilal tribe during the 11th century AD catalyzed the Arabization of the Nile Valley inhabitants, while the surrounding regions maintained their ties with indigenous Sudanese cultures. Initially incorporated into Egyptian Sudan in 1875, Darfur fell under the control of Mahdist State in 1883 when its governor, Slatin Pasha, relinquished power. Following the Mahdist War, Darfur was reintegrated into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, with Sultan Ali Dinar reinstated as a British ally until his removal in 1916 for backing the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Thereafter, Darfur remained under the jurisdiction of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and later the independent Republic of Sudan.

The onset of the conflict in Darfur in 2003 stemmed from various factors. One explanation centers on disputes over land between semi-nomadic pastoralists and sedentary agricultural communities, with access to water emerging as a significant flashpoint. The Darfur crisis also intersects with the legacy of the First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars, characterized by tensions between the predominantly Arab government and black southerners adhering to Christian and animist traditions. Moreover, conflict arises from the clash between the Islamist Khartoum-based central government and two rebel factions in Darfur: the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement.