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Quick Guide on Different Groups in Darfur

Here's an abridged guide on the main groups and movements in Darfur. This is a good starting place, however, if any of your characters are part of these groups, I would recommend doing more research on what the goals and motivations of your designated group are.

Rebel Groups in Darfur

SLM/A

JEM

  • Sudan Liberation Movement/Army is a guerilla rebel group

  • Made up of Fur and Zaghawa

  • Believe that international intervention is the best course of action

  • No swift political plans, more reactive/responding to whatever is going on in the moment

  • SLM/A split into two different groups after the Abuja Agreement

    • SLM/A-MM (mainly Zaghawa members) agreed to the Abuja Agreement 

    • SLM/A-AW (mainly Fur members) did not agree to the Abuja Agreement

  • The split in the group led to weakening of SLM/A as a whole

  • Justice Equality Movement

  • SLM/A sister guerilla group

  • More tangible strategy for reform

  • JEM philosophy: Black Book (anti-separatist manifesto)

  • JEM is part of both the SRF (Sudan Revolutionary Front) and NRF (National Redemption Front)

The lines between these groups are pretty blurred and they often work together, however, it is important to note that they are still two separate rebel groups with different motivations.

'Government' Groups

Janjaweed

Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

  • Armed groups and militia that terrorize villages

  • Originated in the 1980s from marginalization from Khartoum

  • Sudanese denies any ties to the Janjaweed but the government plays a large roll in arms supply and recruitment to the militias

  • Force that grew out of the Janjaweed

  • Report to President Al-Bashir

  • Operate under the Sudanese Army

  • More weapons and military power than Janjaweed

  • RSF terrorizes villages (raping women, killing civilians, burning displaced persons’ camps)

Hope this helps clear up some things! Feel free to email me at mwang@bmun.org if you have any questions!

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