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Excelsior College
Author Note
This paper was prepared for HIS353: Holocaust, taught by Dr. Steven Leibo
THE DARFUR CONFLICT AND ITS LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE 2
Abstract
Climate change and its effects on the world is one of the most unyielding challenges we face as a
global community. The impact of climate change has been felt the hardness in developing
countries; Africa has felt the impact the hardest causing conflict to occur in Darfur. The lack of
resources, the political landscape and the inadequate financial support has made this region
unstable. The decreased rainfall and land abasement has made it difficult for Darfurians to allow
their cattle the opportunity to graze, thus pushing those to migrate to the south. Unfortunately,
this has created conflict as they are denied access. The increased competition for natural
resources, water and land access has caused conflict among its people. This paper will explore
the links between race-based ideology and the dehumanization of the Darfurians. It will show the
correlation between genocide and climate change. Furthermore, how precautionary tactics can
Nearly 400,000 Africans may have lost their lives in the radically motivated, lethally destructive;
state supported and militarily unjustified attacks on the farms and villages of the Darfur region of
Sudan (Hagan & Richmond, 2005). Climate change has been debated by scholars for years as it
relates to its effect on scarcity resource and conflict. While a consensus has not been reached;
strong theoretic arguments can be made to support the link between armed conflict and resource
scarcity. Akasha (2014) argues “that the impacts of climate change cannot be the same in every
society, the severity of these impacts depend on the situation within the state itself”. This paper
will work to show the relationship between climate change and genocide.
Ralph Lemkin in his book “Axis Rule in Occupied Europe” would introduce the concept
of genocide. The definition of genocide that is used reflects the official definition as outlined in
the Convention (UN 1948):
… Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part,
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about
Anti-Semitism can be traced back to Martin Luther and Hitler as they were both obsessed
about the Jewish people. Dawidowicz (1986) would cite, “Know, Christian,” wrote Luther, “that
THE DARFUR CONFLICT AND ITS LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE 4
next to the devil thou hast no enemy more cruel, more venomous and violent that a true Jew”.
Hitler’s racial policies were similar to those of Luther. However, the German anti-Semitism is
Catholic Church. Modern German anti-Semitism was the “bastard child of the union of Christian
anti-Semitism with German nationalism” (Dawidowicz, 1986). Hitler would believe that the
“Aryan” race was the pure race and “bearer of human cultural development and consequently,
In the paper titled, “The Collective Dynamics of Racial Dehumanization and Genocidal
Victimization in Darfur” the authors John Hagan and Wenona Rymond-Richmond focus on “the
dehumanization process would include terrorism including the use of racial epithets (e.g., “you
are slaves, kill the slaves” and “this is the last day for blacks”) resulting in violent victimization,
which form the collective process of dehumanization (Hagan & Richmond, 2008).
Hagan & Richmond (2008) share a theory called “Collective Framing” to explain the role
of the state in activating racial dehumanization in which ”racial targeting was the socially
constructed and critically contingent mechanism that mediated the influence of population–
that the aggregation and concentration of racial epithets during attacks created a
genocide (p.5)
Sudanese would align with the Janjweed Sudanese forces joined with Janjaweed
militia to attack black African settlements. They aggregated and concentrated racial epithets in a
collective process of dehumanization and organized terror, which amplified the severity of
genocidal victimization, the lethal and lasting scar of the genocidal state.
The conflict in Darfur has similarities and differences. The Nazis of Germany sought to
annihilate the entire Jewish race in Europe. The Sudanese government murdered those they
thought to be an inferior race. Both groups terrorized the people they deemed not worthy of life.
The Nazis believed in Social Darwinism and the Jews were the inferior race. The Nazis would
murder over six million Jews; while the Janjaweed Militia and Sudanese Government would
Since the 1990s Sudan has suffered from social and economic pressures. The people of
market, and thus the intractability of underdevelopment, but also by the effects of armed
conflict which has started since August 1955 and continued under the ruling of the
Akasha (2014) describes how small-scale conflicts without arms have been fought in
Darfur throughout its history. In the past thirty years the conflicts have been mostly in the south,
THE DARFUR CONFLICT AND ITS LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE 6
west and east of the country. These disputes occur over cattle theft, access to water and grazing,
The drought of 1873/1874 would cause major famine for the area. Darfur would suffer
from years of drought condition that would lead to poor harvest and conflicts with the Weddasi.
These conflicts would lead to pillaging and trading. The famine of 1888-92 has been described
as the “worst ever” and would cause fighting between the Mahdist forces under the “governor of
Darfur and a religiously inspired rebel army” (p.55). Akasha (2014) cites, “Many studies found
substantial evidence of a strong link between the recent occurrences of local conflicts in Darfur
and the environmental degradation” and the “UN Environment Programme asserted a very strong
link between land degradation, desertification and conflict in Darfur” (Akasha, 20104, p.35).
Sudan has always been dependent on rainfall as it is an agricultural economy. The inconsistent
rainfall in the region has made it “vulnerable to the adverse consequences of climate change”
(p.35).
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in response to the genocide in Darfur
“adopted nine major and overall 26 resolutions since the start of the crisis and repeatedly warned
and urged the Sudanese government to stop the violence” (Akasha, 2014, p.65). The resolution
adopted in July 2004 mandated the Sudan government to disarm the militias and bring the guilt
parties to justice. In addition arms embargos were placed on non-government entities. However,
Akasha would cite, The UNSC then failed to monitor the implementation of its demand, let alone
take action against Khartoum for failing to act. (In reality, the Sudan government was incapable
The second resolution titled 1554 was passed later that same year requesting the Sudan
government comply with the first resolution. Resolution 1554 “created an International
Commission of Inquiry to report on violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Darfur”
(p.65). A third resolution, 1590 was passed to establish the “UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)”
which would call for a “ban on offensive military flights over Darfur, extended arms embargo to
all in Darfur, and authorized targeted sanctions (travel ban and asset freeze) (p.65). The U.N.
would continue to pass a ban in a final effort to resolve the problem in Darfur by referring the
In March of 2009, “ICC issued arrest warrants for the President of Sudan, Omar al-
Bashir, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity” (p.66).
Conclusion
Many years have passed since the conflict in Darfur and billions of dollars have been
spent “over negotiations, humanitarian aid and the deployment of military troops, nevertheless,
the crisis is unfolded but evolving” (p.70). The International Community has shown great
involvement with Darfur, however, the problem is not a political one. Akasha (2014) cites,
it's high time for International community to look at the crisis from another
untraditional perspective, try to look deep for the root causes rather than the symptoms.
humanitarian intervention can reverse or solve. The conflict is as not simple as presented
in the media, which casts the conflict in terms of Arabs versus black Africans. The reality
is far more muddled. It is a human tragedy, brewing for decades that finally erupted into a
The Darfur conflict is portrayed in the media as war against Arabs and Africans instead of
looking at the root cause of the conflict. This view is an over simplicity representation.
The International community will need the involvement of all nations to prevent further
genocide. It was work to create sanctions, trade embargos and other tactics to prevent and
Recommendations
Several recommendations have been made to address the on –going crisis in Darfur. One
capacity of local environmental leaders to understanding climate change in Darfur, especially for
drought management. The lack of drought management was a key issue in the conflict” (Akasha,
2014, p.72). Increase awareness in social learning and adaptation to increase environmental
awareness of climate change and incorporate climate change strategies to increase awareness and
strategies” to (p.72).
Akasha (2014) suggest the following on gaining support from the International
community:
channels by:
THE DARFUR CONFLICT AND ITS LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE 9
base, land reform, conservation measures and sustaining the natural pastures.
technologies.
The crime of genocide happens over and over again. After the Holocaust, the hollow
words “never again” are not true as more atrocities have occurred since the Holocaust. The
International community must react and take steps to prevent and stop any known acts of
genocide. The community must work on being proactive to prevent genocide and education all
on the effects of climate change and how they impact it for further generations.
THE DARFUR CONFLICT AND ITS LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE 10
Bibliography
Dawidowicz, L.S., (1986) The war against the jews. New York, NY: Bantam
RHagan, J., Rymond-Richmond, W., & Parker, P. (2005). The criminology of genocide: the death
Hagan, J., & Rymond-Richmond, W. (2008). The collective dynamics of racial dehumanization
Kress, C. (2005). The Darfur report and genocidal intent. Journal Of International Criminal
Straus, S. (2005). Darfur and the genocide debate. Foreign Affairs, 84(1), 123-133.