Darfur and the CAR

For most of us "Darfur" is just another foreign word. We may not know that it refers to a region in Sudan where thousands of people have been killed in the past few months. We need to learn about Darfur.

First we need to know that this is not a Muslim against other religions type of conflict. The government, the rebels, and the militias are all Muslims. This is, however, in a broad sense, an Arab against non-Arab type of conflict.

Second, we need to know that the United States have called the conflict in Darfur a "genocide," although the UN has not gone that far. Millions of people have been displaced from their villages, as many as 450,000 may have died already, though exact numbers are impossible to have. For a comprehensive analysis and history of the conflict in the region, go here

As recently as August 28 attacks in the Darfur region (far western Sudan, bordering the Central African Republic, the Chad, and Libya, a region about three-quarters the size of Texas) were widespread, lasting for several days, and resulting in chaotic displacements, family separations, and many children who have disappeared. Hundreds are now feared dead, according the the UN High Commission for Refugees. Read story here

Darfur impacts the Central African Republic in a major way. First, Sudan has for all intents and purposes invaded the northeast part of the CAR with a proxy of Chadeans who are not living in caves waiting for the dry season to come in a month or so they can presumably join forces with a larger force of Sudanese puppets to try to topple the government of Chad and perhaps the CAR as well. These forces are rippling out from Darfur and have left this country in utter chaos.

Journalist Nicholas Kristof, from the New York Times, who traveled recently to the CAR, wrote on a column dated October 1, that "the north of the Central African Republic is now a war zone, with rival bands (some from the government) burning villages, kidnapping children, robbing travelers and killing people with impunity." He contends that if this kind of random violence is not stopped, "the legacy of Darfur may be that all of Chad and the Central African Republic will collapse into Somalia-style anarchy."

The human cost of this tragedy is mounting. Mr. Kristof speaks of visiting a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, where a French doctor was treating Arthur Demongoy, a 2-year old suffering from severe malnutrition. "Children like Arthur," he says, "are heartbreakingly impassive; they are so starved they never cry, for every calorie goes to keeping them alive."

Though we didn't visit this area of the CAR, the description is eerily familiar. And I am convinced we must do all we can to try to make a difference. President Bush has called the tragedy in Darfur a "genocide." Why not ask the President to let the United States be more active in stopping this kind of genocide from spreading even further into the neighboring countries of the region. I would urge you to contact your representatives and express your concerns.

Pastor Ivanildo Trindade