Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Differentiating between conflicts in Sudan

Darfur is in Eastern Uganda, bordering on Chad I think. The "bad guys" there are the Jinjiweed militia but its pretty well known, though not admitted, that they are backed by the Sudanese government to do the dirty work- basically killing off the inhabitants so they can get oil, is what I've heard. China is a big supporter of the governement which is why we are calling these Olympic games the "genocide olympics" and I am very upset cause my favorite banana republic sweater is made in china.
thanks for reminding me i haven't checked my trusty Sudan researcher's website recently and must do that. www.sudanreeves.org if you ever have time to wade through long, academically sound articles.
The war that was going for over 20 years, between the north and south, is what had a peace agreement signed in 2005 that expires in 2011 and, I think, that war will begin again unless the north is converted to Christianity and the oil wells dry up. Especially because the leader of the army in the south (the SPLA), John Garang, a Christian and a great man, was killed in a mysterious helicopter accident after the peace agreement was signed.
The south is semi-independant at the moment, and has to choose whether to stay with the north or form its own country in 2011 (as if the North will just let them go, they have a lot of oil). The north has a long and bloody history of saying whatever the West wants and then doing whatever they want, but that doesn't seem to discourage the journalists. at the moment though the south is doing well, and I am actually looking in to visiting some churches there cause its just over the border and the roads are good cause so many UN vehicles go through. Maybe I can bring back a baby like Angelina, or at least get a good photo op.

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