Darfur Genocide

As CNN reports "...the commission said it does not believe the atrocities committed amount to a policy of genocide...." ("U.N. report: Darfur not genocide"). Throughout history genocides have occurred beneath our noses. Nothing dramatic has been done to stop the mass murders and the attempt of wiping out entire social groups. Civil war in Darfur has been an on going situation since February 2003. Gregory Stanton states, 1.9 millions people in southern Sudan have lost their lives since 1983 (Stanton). The situation going on in Darfur is much similar to other genocides. However, how much longer are we willing to wait until it's too late? Thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes and millions other have been killed or slaughtered. The United Nations has no intentions of believing that genocide is occurring. However, the United States didn't hesitate to label actions in Darfur as genocidal acts. The term 'genocide', and the power of that term, should be applied to Darfur.

Every day is a constant battle for Darfur's African civilians as they experience life during genocide. U.S Secretary Colin Powell comments and describes, "There is perhaps no greater tragedy on the face of the earth today than the war in Sudan" (Alexander). There is no better way to describe the atrocities occurring in Darfur, Sudan. Civilians have to witness the deaths of family members and loved ones constantly cause by the Janjaweed militias. The Arab Janjaweed militias and Khartoum are responsible for the 250,000 deaths in Darfur report Stanton. (Stanton). Genocide unfolds in stages. The first stage of genocide involves the classification of 'us' and 'them' ("Eight Stages to Genocide Explained"). In this case the 'us' being the Janjaweed militiamen as well as the Khartoum, and 'them' being the African civilians. Since the majority of African's living in nearby villages are Christian, the Sudanese government wants to quote-on-quote Arabize their life. Eventually, "The Khartoum would like to convert the entire continent of Africa to Islam" (Alexander). Therefore, the Sudanese government has performed countless acts of dehumanization, which is another step towards defining genocide ("Eight Stages to Genocide Explained"). Government officials have aided militias to drive out Africans from their villages and instead place them in refugee camps. Over a period of time, the supply of help and food [has] become short and civilians are slowly dying due to famine (Stanton). By not supplying them with food or help the militias are denying their existence and as humans. The most terrifying stage of a common genocide is extermination ("Eight Stages to Genocide Explained"). The labeling of this stage in Darfur is long over due in Darfur. The amount of atrocities occurring in Darfur are unbearable. For example, "...1.5 million people have been driven from their homes and up to 50,000 killed by fighting in Darfur since [the] rebellion broke out in February 2003..." (Ramani). Lives of innocent citizens in Darfur are being lost everyday.

The United Nations are very hesitant to label Darfur genocide, when in reality it really is. They state that, "There can be no genocide, they [United Nations] argue, when there is not race distinction" (Stanton). The race distinction is of that between the Arabs and the black Africans. The Black Africans are being targeted and losing their lives due to the constant battle between them and the Arab government. The United Nations needs to realize what is happening is genocidal and should be stopped. Considering that the UN doesn't believe there's genocide in Darfur it's, "made no progress in stopping militia attacks against civilians in Darfur or disarming the militia" (Ramani). By giving the militias the power to go on and commit crimes against humanity it's allowing for the genocide to escalade into a greater predicament. Due to them not labeling genocide, they have allowed for militias to commit mass murders and ruin the lives of thousands more. Although 160,000 deaths have occurred in Darfur, the United Nations considers that a low amount to declare genocide (Stanton). How many more thousands of innocent Africans have to die until they are helped by the United Nations? By labeling it genocide now, more deaths can be prevented and more help would be awarded to those who need it.

Although the United Nations have the final word, the United States believes the acts committed in Darfur are genocidal. Ken Ramani reports that, "The US is on record as saying it believes genocide has been committed in the strife-torn region of Sudan" (Ramani).