(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Sudan Calling; The UN Envoy Left Warning the Country Is on the Verge of Full Civil War [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-09-14 Civil war returned to Sudan in April and things have gotten so bad that the United Nations Special Envoy had to leave. Now the international community is being called upon to step in and do more to help the people. To understand this conflict, it is important to revisit the nation’s history. Sudan has experienced a number of conflicts throughout its history, with the most significant ones in recent times being the Darfur conflict and the Second Sudanese Civil War which ultimately led to the secession of South Sudan. Here's a brief overview: Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005): This was a conflict primarily between the northern, Arab-dominated government in Khartoum and the non-Arab southern rebels, mainly the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M). The conflict centered around issues of governance, religious freedom, and resources. The war lasted for 22 years and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 2 million people, primarily due to starvation and displacement. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in 2005, ending the war and paving the way for a referendum on independence for South Sudan, which took place in 2011. South Sudan subsequently became an independent country in July 2011. Darfur Conflict (2003-present): This conflict started in the western region of Darfur in 2003 when two rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), began an uprising against the Khartoum government. They accused the central government of neglecting the Darfur region and suppressing its non-Arab population. In response, the Sudanese government-backed Arab militias known as the Janjaweed in a counter-insurgency campaign. This escalated into large-scale violence against the local population, resulting in widespread atrocities including mass killings, rapes, and the displacement of millions. While the intensity of the conflict has fluctuated over the years, sporadic violence and displacement continue, and attempts at peace agreements have not been entirely successful. Post-Secession Tensions with South Sudan (2011-present): After the secession of South Sudan in 2011, there have been ongoing tensions and sporadic conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan over several issues, including border disputes, oil revenue-sharing, and accusations of support for rebel groups in each other's territories. 2018-2019 Sudanese Revolution: Protests against economic issues and long-time President Omar al-Bashir started in December 2018. Over time, these protests gained momentum, leading to calls for an end to al-Bashir's 30-year rule. In April 2019, the Sudanese military ousted al-Bashir, leading to a transitional military-civilian government aiming to guide the country towards democratic governance. The current situation began to devolve in April when fighting broke out between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, a rebel group. According to a letter signed by 50 human rights organizations: Since April, when open hostilities broke out in Sudan’s capital, more than five million people have been forced to flee their homes and hundreds of thousands of others may soon be forced to join them. Many are now living in camps with limited access to humanitarian assistance, few educational opportunities for their children, and almost no psychosocial support to help them cope with their traumatic experiences. Inside Sudan, over 20 million people, 42 percent of Sudan’s population, now face acute food insecurity and 6 million are just a step away from famine. At least 498 children have died from hunger. Clinics and doctors have come under fire throughout the country, putting 80 percent of the country’s major hospitals out of service. Hate speech, especially language urging the targeting of communities based on the color of their skin, is always alarming. But with an increasingly fractured social fabric, some fighters targeting civilians based on their ethnicity, and accounts from sexual violence survivors in Darfur who heard their rapists tell them that we hope you bear “our” babies, we fear the worst. The international community has been slow to respond to other crises (Myanmar, Syria) but needs to step up now. The time has come for the UN Security Council to show that it is not the toothless tiger it looks to be. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/14/2193268/-Sudan-Calling-The-UN-Envoy-Left-Warning-the-Country-Is-on-the-Verge-of-Full-Civil-War Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/