The war in Darfur, an area of Sudan in Africa consists of tensions between two groups which have escalated to a seemingly endless cycle of terror, murder, and acts against humanity.
Origins:
The conflict originated due to tribal clashes over land and water rights between the nomadic tribes who consider themselves Arab and the non-Arab tribes, which consist of nomadic herders and farmers. The two groups have had traditional conflicts for years.
In February 2003, two non-Arab rebel groups attacked military targets to retaliate against what they felt was the government’s neglect and discrimination against them. These attacks sparked Arab-tribal fighters, who were allegedly rallied by the Sudanese government, to launch attacks against the non-Arab rebel groups.
The combination of these political struggles in addition to the increasing competition for fertile land resulted in what we know as the genocide by the Arab tribal fighters against the non-Arab citizens of Darfur.
Clash of the Cultures:
Janjaweed is a word used by non-Arabs to describe the Arab tribal fighters who fight for the government on horses and camels and engage in violent acts including murdering, raping, and displacing non-Arab civilians out of their homes. The Janjaweed often loot and burn the homes that make up the civilian villages of Darfur.
There is disagreement as to who operates the Janjaweed tribe behind the scenes. Although the Sudanese government denies any relations with the militia, leaders of the Janjaweed claim that the government asked the tribes for help in attacks against the rebel non-Arabs. Several members of the Janjaweed, however, deny that they answer to the government and instead claim they are lead by their individual tribal leaders.
The Zaghawa tribe mainly composes the non-Arab military called the Sudan Liberation Army, who fights against the Janjaweed for the protection of non-Arab nomadic herders and farmers.
Genocide:
The issue that fuels these conflicts is that both of these groups want an equal share of power and resources in Darfur, and both are accused of trying to overthrow the government.
The United States and United Nations consider this collaboration of conflicts and violent acts against humanity a genocide. They blame Sudan’s military and the Arab militia for organizing Sudanese warplane attacks on non-Arab villages in addition to ground raids.
In May 2006, the government signed a peace deal, but only one of the main rebel groups also signed. The rest of the groups continued their acts and the violence has since proceeded to increase.
Statistics:
Since the start of the conflict in 2003, there have been several different estimates by many sources regarding the death toll in Darfur.
According to the Coalition for International Justice, the average number of people that have been killed in Darfur is about 450,000.
In addition to these deaths, about 3,000,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
Sources:
Darfur: A Nation Divided 
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