Janjaweed

• • In 2003, peace negotiations between North and South Sudan were taking place.

  Another crisis developed in the Western province of Darfur.

  • Long term drought had led to tensions between Arab nomadic herders and the African farming communities.

  (violent conflict)
• Darfur accused the Sudanese government of neglecting the violent conflict which had broken out there.

  • Fighting broke out between Darfur rebel groups and Sudanese government forces - allied with Janjaweed militia.
• After air attacks on civilian settlements by Sudanese government forces, the Janjaweed militia would often ride in on horseback, killing the men and murdering, kidnapping and raping women + children.

  • Hundreds of thousands were killed and many more became refugees.

  The scale of atrocities led to events in Darfur being categorised as ethnic cleansing.