Concern is growing about the situation in Darfur, this region of western Sudan which is once again the scene of clashes and violence. Civilians are taken hostage in a power struggle between generals Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as “Hemetti”, and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The question that arises today is whether the current situation can be compared to that experienced in 2003, when the United States described the massacres in Darfur as genocide.
To answer this question, we sought the expertise of Jérôme Tubiana, advisor to the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on refugee issues and a specialist in Sudan. According to him, the scale of the conflict in Darfur remains quite similar geographically compared to twenty years ago. The clashes are mainly taking place in areas already affected by the previous conflict.
However, Tubiana emphasizes that the nature of the conflict has evolved. While in 2003 the clashes were mainly between the Sudanese government and rebel groups, today the power struggle between generals Hemetti and al-Burhan has added an additional dimension to the violence in the region. Civilians are caught between these different factions, suffering massacres, rapes and forced displacement.
It is important to remember that Darfur has a long history of conflict and violence. Since 2003, thousands of people have been killed and millions more have been forcibly displaced. Despite attempts at mediation and peace agreements, Darfur continues to be a troubled and unstable region.
It is therefore crucial that the international community remains mobilized and steps up its efforts to end the violence in Darfur and protect the civilians who are trapped. Non-governmental organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières play a vital role in providing health care, food and psychosocial support to conflict-affected populations.
The situation in Darfur is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of civilians in conflict zones and the importance of international action to prevent atrocities and protect populations. Hopefully this time around, peace efforts will be enough to end decades of violence and suffering in Darfur.