The conflict started in the March of 2003 when Sudanese rebels in Darfur began skirmishing with the Sudanese government. By September more than 65,000 people have fled Darfur for the neighboring country of Chad (fled from Sudan that is). By December 600,000 are estimated to have been displaced. During this time is when the conflict really began took shape. From March to April the rebels managed to win several engagements with the government the most important being a raid on the capital of North Darfur, Al-Fashir. In response to this string of successfull raids the government began employing the Janjaweed. The Janjaweed are a group of Arabic speaking herders which the government organized to help stop the uprising. These Janjaweed forces managed to turn the tide against the rebels and force most non-Arabs to flee the country to Chad. However, the Janjaweed quickly became out of control and began chasing fleeing citizens into Chad creating tensions between the Chadian, and Sudanese governments. In April of 2004 a ceasefire is reached between the rebels and the government. However, factions on both sides continually breach the agreement and enforcement is almost nonexistent. Since this 2004 ceasefire the situation has only gotten worse. Rape is a frighteningly common place occurrence, and refugees number in the millions. (1)(2)(3)(4)
Why has the situation in Darfur been allowed to deteriorate as far as it has? The answer is not simple. A lot of blame obviously must be placed on the Sudanese government. They have allowed the conflict to continue to the point of insanity. They have refused to recognize the authority of international criminal courts, and have shown no signs of attempting to stop the conflict. Perhaps worst of all, however, they have humanitarian organizations attempting to aid Sudanese refugees (5). The president himself, Omar al-Bashir, claims that the claims have been exaggerated and puts the death toll at around 10,000 while the UN puts it at around 300,000 deaths (6). The response from countries around the world has been completely impotent as well however. In 2008 an arrest warrant was issued by The International Criminal Court for Omar al-Bashir, yet no arrest has been made (7). Some feel that this is because an arrest could further destabilize the country, but other than these chargers there haven't been any real response from any international organization. On a national level the response has also been lacking. Other than deeming the situation genocide (which the UN has not done), and sending aid to the country the US hasn't really done anything (more on that later). Other countries like Great Britain have also sent aid, but no country seems to actually be going into Darfur to attempt to stop the conflict. In fact, estimates on how much vary, but it is generally accepted that China and Russia are, or at least have been, supplying the Sudanese military with arms (8).
So what does this all mean for America? Many feel that it's not the US's responsibility to intervene in Darfur. They say, "We are not the international police. Isn't that what the UN is for?" And I tend to agree, I feel that the UN is supposed to be an international peacekeeping organization, but they never seem to be able to act in any active manner. At this point in time it would be hard for the US to contribute to any kind of real peacekeeping operation in Darfur. We already have troops tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not to mention the backlash the US would receive if it were to be the only country to invade (for lack of a better term) Sudan. I feel that as an international community we must declare our belief that mass murder and rape are crimes against humanity in a real way not just with words. I also understand that UN rules and regulations being what they are that this would be an incredibly difficult thing to get going (correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the country have to allow the UN to enter?), but as long we stand by and allow the atrocities being committed to be, well, committed then something just won't sit right in my stomach.