environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics
environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics environmental degradation as a cause of conflict in - Steiner Graphics
IntroductionWHILE in the Sudan protracted conflict seems to be heading towards the endof one of its major manifestations, the bloody war in the South, anotherequally murderous and dehumanising conflict erupts in Darfur. In spite ofthe numerous social, cultural, economic and political differences which characterisethe two regions, they still share many of the root causes that are behind each ofthe conflict situations.While the deeply entrenched causes affect other regions of the country as theydid in the South or now in Darfur, the particularity of each sub-conflict e.g. theEast, is incumbent on root-causes particular to the region and other varying secondaryor incidental causes. In analysing the conflicts in the Sudan, due considerationneeds to be given also to structural as well as external factors, namely theimpact of the global conflict system, and as we argue, systems.Academic research as well as practical politics did not fail to identify the obviousrelationships and linkages that justified describing or grouping adjacent nationalconflicts into a regional or sub-regional conflict system. The progressive departurefrom the classic perception of conflict as being either internal or external resultedin abandoning the dichotomous approach developed by the advocates of the RealistDoctrine of international relations. In Africa, arbitrary boarders that split indigenouspopulations between states inevitably blurred the internal nature of conflictsand justified the intervention of the co-host of the same ethnic group, in case ofinvolvement in disputes or conflicts.The notion that conflicts within a state’s boundaries are strictly a domesticaffair holds no water and is no longer acceptable to regional organisations [AU] orthe international community at large. Scholars who resent vehemently ‘internationalisation’of conflicts are to realise that though they are progressively deprivingindividual governments of absolute authority and control, that they are renderingthem entirely visible. Conflict analysis precedes conflict management. The methodology,approach and techniques of management depend, among other things, onthe characteristics and linkages of the overall conflict system. Resolving a conflictin the absence of those considerations is virtually futile.The Sudan conflict is integrally included in the Horn of Africa conflict system.The interlinkages and shared causes and sub-processes are evident. The Horn ofAfrica conflict system includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and some wouldinclude Kenya and Uganda. To relate the Darfur conflict sub-system to the globalSudan crises and conflict system is the first step towards understanding the impactthe Horn and other conflict systems have on Darfur. Sudan is included in anotherAfrican conflicts system namely the Greater Lakes conflict system. The interlinkages,shared causes and direct impact on the war in the South are obvious. The82
many interventions that took place in or for Sudan exemplify those links.The Greater Lakes conflict system includes as far as its front vis-à-vis the Sudana northern flank, namely Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)and Rwanda. Through the intermediary of the Central African Republic (CAR) andinternally the State of West Bahr El Gazal, the Lakes conflict system tentacles managedto reach Darfur.Tracing the origins of the Darfur conflict requires investigating the historic,social, cultural, economic and ethnic aspects of the conflict that would reveal froma Darfurian standpoint, and perspective, the nature and extent and effect of theexternal factors. The geographical, natural and ecological traits of Darfur reveal thenature and importance of those factors. They form primordial linkages, especiallywith the Chadian conflict system. Analysing in detail the relations that bind Darfurto Chad explains an important dimension of the Darfur crisis.The contemporary aspect of those relations is essential. The historic aspect isequally telling and it shows how sheer ignorance and or a policy of deliberateconcealment and deception resulted in losing many an opportunity, and led to theunprecedented aggravation of the horrors and suffering. The reciprocal impactingeffect of the relationship between the Chadian conflict and the Darfur conflictshaped the modern day state of affairs in both regions. This is to be consideredas a continual cause for alarm since significant political change in Chad is alwaysinstigated, originated and led from Darfur. Change of regimes in Chad since Tombalbayeto the current president Deby, passing by Maloum, Oueddi, and Habre all cameto power through Darfurian intermediaries and were fatally weakened and toppledthrough the same.The role of Libya is tremendous as far as the relationship between Sudan andChad is concerned. The Libyans learned the lesson that the fate of Chad is determinedin Darfur. Tracing the brutal Libyan/Chadian encounter with its emotional,political and military remnants necessitates intensifying the search for global solutions.Border disputes between the Central African Republic and Sudan do not call formuch alarm, none the less CAR’s own conflicts spill over into Chad and the Sudanand will eventually add more trouble to Darfur. Armed banditry, illicit smallarmstrade, drug trafficking etc. will be dealt with effectively if candid authorities cooperate.Is another conflict system that includes CAR, Chad, Sudan and Libya in themaking and who else does it include? Are states like Niger, Cameroon and DRC partof this system and why? And where does the epicentre of this system exist? Is it,given the shifting nature of epicentres, now in Darfur?83
- Page 32 and 33: 20On other emerging ethnically-base
- Page 34 and 35: IntroductionTHE Greater Darfur regi
- Page 36 and 37: 2. Agriculture (Farming)Crop farmin
- Page 38 and 39: Secondly, the demand for mutton and
- Page 40 and 41: groundnut and sesame as sources of
- Page 42 and 43: The situation of drinking water in
- Page 44 and 45: ReferencesConference, Meleet, North
- Page 46 and 47: IntroductionTHE residents of the Um
- Page 48 and 49: Phase Two:This phase was a monitori
- Page 50 and 51: zone southward — and to use these
- Page 52 and 53: • Some water points in places lik
- Page 54 and 55: This study and the seminar organize
- Page 57 and 58: Land Tenure,Land Use andConflicts i
- Page 59 and 60: tain innovations called hakura (pl.
- Page 61 and 62: mands for food production. All thes
- Page 63 and 64: Hashab Tenure SystemHashab ownershi
- Page 65 and 66: co-exist at the local level where e
- Page 67 and 68: IndigenousInstitutions andPractices
- Page 69 and 70: abs. In the past they had been invo
- Page 71 and 72: Sufi OrderSufi orders are religious
- Page 73 and 74: Native Administration, i.e. Tribal
- Page 75 and 76: Rizayqat homeland is at the extreme
- Page 77 and 78: esearchers and statesmen. A bigger
- Page 79: ReferencesBakheit, Jaafar M.Ali. 19
- Page 84 and 85: ReferencesHarir, S. 1993. ‘Arab B
- Page 86 and 87: IntroductionTHE Darfur Region lies
- Page 88 and 89: Table (1)Water program for Darfur 2
- Page 90 and 91: anging from 150mm the north and 450
- Page 92 and 93: ReferencesIbrahim, Abdel Rahman Abb
- Page 94 and 95: CONCLUSIONTHE collection of papers
- Page 96 and 97: GLOSSARYAjawidArdaBaqqaraDarDukhnFa
- Page 99 and 100: A Darfur Timeline99
- Page 101 and 102: 1898 On the eve of the battle of Om
- Page 103 and 104: Bibliography103
- Page 105 and 106: El Mahdi S. Mohamed. 1979. Introduc
- Page 107 and 108: Tothill, J.D. 1948. Agriculture in
- Page 109 and 110: Biographical Sketch: Rex Sean O’F
- Page 111 and 112: 111
many <strong>in</strong>terventions that took place <strong>in</strong> or for Sudan exemplify those l<strong>in</strong>ks.The Greater Lakes <strong>conflict</strong> system <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> its front vis-à-vis the Sudana northern flank, namely Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo (DRC)and Rwanda. Through the <strong>in</strong>termediary <strong>of</strong> the Central African Republic (CAR) and<strong>in</strong>ternally the State <strong>of</strong> West Bahr El Gazal, the Lakes <strong>conflict</strong> system tentacles managedto reach Darfur.Trac<strong>in</strong>g the orig<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the Darfur <strong>conflict</strong> requires <strong>in</strong>vestigat<strong>in</strong>g the historic,social, cultural, economic and ethnic <strong>as</strong>pects <strong>of</strong> the <strong>conflict</strong> that would reveal froma Darfurian standpo<strong>in</strong>t, and perspective, the nature and extent and effect <strong>of</strong> theexternal factors. The geographical, natural and ecological traits <strong>of</strong> Darfur reveal thenature and importance <strong>of</strong> those factors. They form primordial l<strong>in</strong>kages, especiallywith the Chadian <strong>conflict</strong> system. Analys<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> detail the relations that b<strong>in</strong>d Darfurto Chad expla<strong>in</strong>s an important dimension <strong>of</strong> the Darfur crisis.The contemporary <strong>as</strong>pect <strong>of</strong> those relations is essential. The historic <strong>as</strong>pect isequally tell<strong>in</strong>g and it shows how sheer ignorance and or a policy <strong>of</strong> deliberateconcealment and deception resulted <strong>in</strong> los<strong>in</strong>g many an opportunity, and led to theunprecedented aggravation <strong>of</strong> the horrors and suffer<strong>in</strong>g. The reciprocal impact<strong>in</strong>geffect <strong>of</strong> the relationship between the Chadian <strong>conflict</strong> and the Darfur <strong>conflict</strong>shaped the modern day state <strong>of</strong> affairs <strong>in</strong> both regions. This is to be considered<strong>as</strong> a cont<strong>in</strong>ual <strong>cause</strong> for alarm s<strong>in</strong>ce significant political change <strong>in</strong> Chad is always<strong>in</strong>stigated, orig<strong>in</strong>ated and led from Darfur. Change <strong>of</strong> regimes <strong>in</strong> Chad s<strong>in</strong>ce Tombalbayeto the current president Deby, p<strong>as</strong>s<strong>in</strong>g by Maloum, Oueddi, and Habre all cameto power through Darfurian <strong>in</strong>termediaries and were fatally weakened and toppledthrough the same.The role <strong>of</strong> Libya is tremendous <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> the relationship between Sudan andChad is concerned. The Libyans learned the lesson that the fate <strong>of</strong> Chad is determ<strong>in</strong>ed<strong>in</strong> Darfur. Trac<strong>in</strong>g the brutal Libyan/Chadian encounter with its emotional,political and military remnants necessitates <strong>in</strong>tensify<strong>in</strong>g the search for global solutions.Border disputes between the Central African Republic and Sudan do not call formuch alarm, none the less CAR’s own <strong>conflict</strong>s spill over <strong>in</strong>to Chad and the Sudanand will eventually add more trouble to Darfur. Armed banditry, illicit smallarmstrade, drug traffick<strong>in</strong>g etc. will be dealt with effectively if candid authorities cooperate.Is another <strong>conflict</strong> system that <strong>in</strong>cludes CAR, Chad, Sudan and Libya <strong>in</strong> themak<strong>in</strong>g and who else does it <strong>in</strong>clude? Are states like Niger, Cameroon and DRC part<strong>of</strong> this system and why? And where does the epicentre <strong>of</strong> this system exist? Is it,given the shift<strong>in</strong>g nature <strong>of</strong> epicentres, now <strong>in</strong> Darfur?83
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