World Report: September 24, 2004 Vol. 10 Iss. 3
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
No End in Sight for the Crisis in Sudan
Since February 2003, the region of Darfur, in the African country of Sudan, has been torn apart by fighting. Some 10,000 people have been killed. More than 1 million have been forced to leave their homes. At least 160,000 have fled across the border into Chad. Last week, hopes for an end to the violence seemed bleak after peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, broke off.
The talks between the Sudanese government and rebel fighters began on April 23. The first round of talks failed, and there had been little progress in the past three weeks. A cease-fire in effect since April has not stopped the violence.
The fighting began with an uprising of black Africans against what they said was discrimination by the Sudanese government. The rebels attacked government targets. (Most members of the government are Arab. The rebels are non-Arab blacks. Both groups are Muslim.)
After the February uprising, Arab cattle ranchers, known as the Janjaweed (Arabic for "armed men on horseback"), struck back. They began attacking black farming villages. The U.S. says the Janjaweed are backed by Sudan's military.
On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for immediate action to stop attacks on civilians. "It is urgent to take action now," he said. "Both sides have to stop violating the cease-fire."
