Another Statist Manufactured Madness: A look at Sudan's Darfur conflict

A look at the rebels who moved on the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on Saturday, and the underlying conflict in the Darfur region:

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CONFLICT:

More than 200,000 people have died since ethnic African tribes rebelled in February 2003 after years of neglect by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The government responded with a military campaign in which pro-government Arab militia, the janjaweed, are alleged to have committed widespread atrocities.

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PLAYERS:

_ Sudan's government: President Omar al-Bashir last year agreed under heavy international pressure to a hybrid United Nations-African Union force to replace the small and poorly equipped A.U. force. Human rights and humanitarian groups allege the government has launched military offensives and failed to disarm the janjaweed. Rebels also accuse the government of stonewalling on the deployment of the peacekeeping force, which has insufficient personnel and equipment.

_ Justice and Equality Movement: Led by Khalil Ibrahim, a veteran politician, the JEM has become the backbone of a rebel coalition that has repeatedly defeated government troops in northern Darfur. JEM calls for more autonomy for Darfur but not outright independence. Experts say the group's military strength has been boosted by arms from Chad.

_ Other rebel factions: The Sudan Liberation Movement splintered into two main factions in November 2005 after a power struggle between leaders Abdelwahid Elnur and Minni Minnawi. Minnawi signed a peace deal with the Sudanese government in 2006 and is now an adviser to President Al-Bashir.

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FORCES:

_ Sudanese Armed Forces: Believed to be more than 100,000.

_ Estimated size of both SLM and JEM: 10,000, according to Jane's Information Group. The International Crisis Group puts the number at between 7,000 and 15,000, and some estimates put it much lower, around 1,200 to 2,000.

_ Janjaweed: Peaked at about 10,000, but figures fluctuate.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iovdqG2fn6-tI5iJt7TEp-kWRmTQD90J2GJO0

Another Statist Manufactured Madness: A look at Sudan's Darfur conflict

Another Statist Manufactured Madness: A look at Sudan's Darfur conflict

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