Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 02/2009

Darfur: In Search of Peace

George Shepherd, Peter Van Arsdale

January 2009

Human Rights & Human Welfare (University of Denver)

Abstract

Darfur is located in the Western part of Sudan and borders Libya to the north, and Chad and Central
African Republic to the West. It had an estimated population of seven million (prior to refugee and IDP
displacements), representing more than 70 tribes, and is potentially rich in natural resources including
oil, copper, and uranium, as well as reservoirs of subsurface "Pleistocene water."

The current crisis in Darfur can be traced back to traditional conflicts between nomadic tribes and
sedentary farmers. The nomads, who are mostly camel and cattle herders, claim to be of Arab origin
while the sedentary farmers claim African origins. During dry seasons, the nomads venture into
agriculturalist areas in search of food, water, and grazing lands for their animals. Such encroachments
historically fermented tribal conflicts. The severe drought which periodically strikes the Sudano‐Sahelian
belt adversely affects the Darfur region of Sudan, contributing to attacks by nomadic tribes on sedentary
agriculturalists. Tribal councils used to mediate these conflicts through arbitration and compensation.