6.9 Case Study: Human Rights for Refugees – Sudan

Case Study: Human Rights for Refugees - Sudan

A woman with her two children inside of her hut in one of the refugee comps in Nyala, Sudan
Raul Touzon/National Geographic Stock

The Sudan is a large, multi-ethnic, and multi-racial nation in Africa. The nation is composed of many tribes with various lifestyles, religions, and cultures. While most of the population is African, the government is largely controlled by Arabs. Note that "African" and "Arabic" denotes the ethnic origin of these people, not their religion. Many of the Arabic people are nomadic tribes that move from place to place herding camels and following the Muslim religion. Permanently settled farmers in towns and villages are mostly of African descent and follow several religions including Christianity, Islam, and animism. The government is dominated by the Arabic Muslims.

Background

A serious famine in the late 1980s increased competition for the land among the tribes. An Arabic alliance was formed that opposed the farming tribes. The government armed the Arabic Janjaweed militia and disarmed the African people. This led to conflict, including civil war. The Darfur conflict is an ongoing conflict that began in 2003 in a very poor area of western Sudan where almost all the people are Muslim. An armed group of men from the farming communities, called the Sudanese Liberation Army , re-armed themselves in self-defense against the Janjaweed militia. Many of these people have now become refugee in Sudan and in neighboring countries.

Perspectives on Roles and Responsibilities

As in most conflicts, there are various views. Tribal differences and competition for land are at the heart of the matter. They have repeatedly refused to allow any peacekeeping forces into their country. In March 2007, the UN accused the government of taking part in "gross violations" in Darfur and called for urgent international action to protect civilians there.

Human Rights Violations

• Right to security of the person : The Janjaweed attacks forced thousands from their homes. Over 450 000 people were killed between 2003 and 2006. As many as 2.5 million have been displaced and currently live in refugee camps.

• Equality Rights : The United States has described this action as genocide or ethnic cleansing.

• Right to a decent standard of living : The Janjaweed also follow a scorched earth policy, which means when people flee or are forced from their homes, the pursuers burn their villages so they have nowhere to return and the land is no longer fit for farming. These displaced people have no food, water, or shelter in the barren landscape of Sudan.

What Is Being Done about Human Rights Abuse in Sudan?

The Sudanese government will not address the human rights abuses in the region and refuses to take the steps needed to restrict the activities of the Janjaweed. In June 2005, The International Criminal Court investigated human rights violations in Darfur, but the Government of Sudan refused to co-operate. Finally in 2009, the International Criminal Court indicted Sudanese President Omar al Bashir for directing a campaign of mass killing, rape, and pillage against civilians.

He became the first sitting president to be indicted by ICC. In addition, warrants were issued by the ICC for former Sudanese Minister of State for the Interior Ahmad Harun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb. The Government of Sudan has not surrendered either suspect to the ICC. Because Sudan does not support the ICC, these three men cannot be arrested as long as they are in the country. Theoretically, they are imprisoned within their country, but since groups like the Arab League and the African Union support al Bashir, he has been able to visit countries that are part of these organizations.

United Nations
In August of 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution calling for a new UN peacekeeping force of 17 300 to assist or replace the African Union force. Sudan strongly objected and said that it would see the UN forces in the region as foreign invaders. The United Nations is monitoring the situation, operating refugee camps, and working to find a solution. As the situation begins to resolve, the UN is withdrawing gradually from the area.

Sanctions
The United States has strongly recommended international sanctions against Sudan and has its own set of sanctions against trade with Sudan, some of which are still in place, although other sanctions were removed in 2017. Other nations have similar sanctions, although Canada's sanctions are limited to trade in arms. However, China plays a role in this situation as well. The Chinese government has oil interests in Sudan and, therefore, does not support such sanctions. Their continuing purchase of Sudanese oil allows money to continue to flow into the country. There is also speculation that certain other countries, notably Russia, may be supporting the Sudanese militia, although the Russian government denies the connection.

International Organizations

Many international agencies are at work in Darfur, including Human Rights Watch, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, and others. However, their actions are limited due to the military and government power working against their efforts.

UN Security Council News

Doctors Without Borders

United To End Genocide