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Sudan

The country of Sudan in the north has an ancient history, it was then known as Nubia, which was then under the rule of Egypt. A civilization called Kush thrived until 350 A.D. In the 20th century the Sudanese saw growth in its nation and by 1953 it was granted self-government by the Egypt and Britain. There independence was proclaimed on January 1, 1956. Although independence has been in place the country has seen a very unbalanced government. Differences in ethnicity, language, religion, and political powers have made the self-governed country a very unstable rule. By 1995 the U.N. was imposing strong sanctions on travel for violations of human rights, religious persecution and the allegations that Sudan was an unsafe destinations for all international terrorists.(2) In 1999 attention was focused on evidence that slavery was common throughout the Sudan. The Arab raiders in the north were enslaving thousands of southerners, who were black, the Dinka people seemed to be the main focus of the raids. Peace talks took place in 2002-2003, the government agreed to a power-sharing government for six years, and following that a self-determination and referendum on the south. The peace talks came to no resolution and fighting between the north and south continued. But, in May 2004, a deal between the governments and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army was signed, ending 20 years of conflict that had resulted in 2 million deaths.(1) The civil war seemed to be coming to an end, when an increased new war in the northwestern Darfur region erupted. By January 2004, a pro-government group called the Janjaweed was allowed to carry out massacres against black villagers and rebel groups in the regions. This action had begun another round of what was to result in 200,000 to 300,000 civilians and displacement of more then 1 million people. This action was unmistakably the worlds worst human disaster, but the international community has reacted with inefficacy in persuading the Sudanese government to rein in the Janjaweed. This was to be known to all as Genocide, and the killing continue.(2)

Sources: (1) The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed., Columbia University Press, http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0802668.html (2) Encylopedia, Africa, World: Africa, March 8, 2007, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/08/opinion/main2547060.shtml?source=search_story