Sudanese explains crisis in Darfur
By Megan Helgeson, writer
May 22, 2008 | noon
In spirit of last week’s International Week, the Yamada International House hosted a videoconference on May 15 with Dr. Mukhar, director of Al-Khatim Adlan Centre for Enlightenment and Human Development (KACE). Titled “Africa Live: The Crisis in Darfur,” the event consisted of Mukhar’s video chat and a corresponding PowerPoint presentation.
Despite the tensions from the North and South civil war, Darfur added further conflict to the region “early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, saying the region was being neglected by Khartoum,” according to a BBC news article. Khartoum is Sudan’s capital and the center for government.
Mukhar mentioned ethnic issues as one of the main causes of the conflict. “There is a segment of the population that defines themselves as Arabs,” Mukhar said. “The other segment defines themselves as African.”
The diverse cultures, religions, languages and histories of Sudan also create problems. “One history of one group is the anti-history of another group,” Mukhar said.
The present government being controlled by a single ethnic group does not encompass all these diversities. “We have to have a system of government that reflects and manages these diversities,” Mukhar said. “Failing that has resulted in the conflict.”
How the conflict is perceived by the world is another point of contention. The issues seen by Mukhar with the Western government are “tough talk, no action,” and they are “bogged in controversial terminologies.”
What Mukhar is referring to is the definition of genocide. “The U.S. and some human rights groups say that genocide is taking place—though a U.N. investigation team sent to Sudan said that while war crimes had been committed, there had been no intent to commit genocide,” the BBC article said.
The Arab and Muslim world, however, has viewed the conflict with “denial, tolerance and indifference,” Mukhar said.
“The government has no intention or plans to resolve the situation in Darfur,” he said. “If the government had the will to find a solution, it could solve the problem in no time.”
Yet despite the acknowledgment of a problem, Mukhar feels it has been blown out of proportion. He lists the “Three D’s” that explain why the U.S. and Western powers are exaggerating. “It’s a plot to one, define Islam; two, divide Sudan; and three, distract the world’s attention from Iraq and Palestine.”
Mukhar sees the elections planned for next year as a glimpse of hope if several factors are met. He explains the elections must take place as planned, they must be honest and not rigged and there should be national monitors. “If this will happen,” Mukhar said, “we will have a change in government for sure.”
No matter how much we hear about the crisis in Darfur, we can only minimally understand what is actually happening. However, with help from those who are experiencing it, like Dr. Mukhar, we can only appreciate their struggle more.
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