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Since 2003, armed groups in western Sudan (Darfur) have been
engaged in hostilities against Sudanese government troops. The
World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the monthly death
toll in this conflict is as high as 10,000. Observers talk of
"genocide" against the black African civilian population.
In eastern Chad too, the conflict between opposition groups and the
government has been conducted by violent means since April 2006,
almost escalating into civil war in late 2006.
There are numerous links between the crises in Sudan and
Chad, which threaten to destabilise the Central African Republic
as well. The prospect of war between Chad and Sudan still cannot
be ruled out.
The causes of these armed conflicts lie primarily in the
political and economic marginalisation of the regions concerned.
However, ethnic and cultural components also play a role. At
local level, a further factor is control of land and water,
which are becoming increasingly scarce resources.
International actors have geostrategic interests in the
region which further exacerbate the conflicts: alongside Sudan's
central role in the war on terror, there are major untapped oil
reserves in the region, with Asian companies (mainly from China)
competing with Western firms over access to them. There is thus
a risk that the crises could escalate into proxy wars.
Numerous government and non-government organisations in
Germany are working in Chad and Sudan. The Round Table set up by
FriEnt is making a contribution to the development of a regional
perspective on these crises, which is essential for the
organisations involved to be able to devise new strategic
responses. FriEnt provides expert support to its members in this
context and aims to sharpen the focus on the regional dimensions
of these crises.
FriEnt Activities
- The six-monthly Chad-Sudan Round Table, which aims to
foster dialogue and the exchange of analyses and evaluations
and promote policy coherence and cooperation
- Advisory services on a Chad/Sudan strategy for German
organisations
- Individual advice for FriEnt member organisations
- Publications for a regional perspective on the Chad and
Sudan crises
FriEnt-Publications
Conflits violents au Tchad
Causes, acteurs et pistes d’actions
Volker Gerdesmeier | FriEnt, Misereor | 2008
Gewaltsame Konflikte im Tschad
Ursachen, Akteure und Handlungsoptionen
Volker Gerdesmeier | FriEnt, Misereor | 2008
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