Darfur Genocide

Darfur Genocide

On February 26, 2003, rebel groups in Darfur, Sudan, including the Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement, launched attacks against government installations and military forces, citing neglect and discrimination against non-Arab populations. The Sudanese government responded with a counterinsurgency campaign.

Government-backed Janjaweed militias carried out systematic attacks on villages inhabited by Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa ethnic groups. Civilians were subjected to killings, sexual violence, forced displacement, and the destruction of homes, crops, and livestock. Humanitarian access was often restricted, exacerbating famine and disease.

Estimates indicate that between 200,000 and 400,000 people were killed and over 2 million displaced between 2003 and 2008. International investigations classified the campaign as genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. Peacekeeping missions and humanitarian interventions provided limited protection, and conflicts continued in subsequent years.