https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/13/more-than-1800-flee-darfur-violence
Intense disputes between tribes in Sudan’s West Darfur region have forced thousands of refugees to flee into neighboring Chad. Refugees have been forcibly displaced several times as they flee violence and clashes which have killed hundreds. The situation also includes targeted attacks on refugee sites. Darfur previously faced a civil war, beginning in 2003, which left roughly 300,000 dead and 2.5 million more displaced. The latest violence occurring in the region is between the Massalit and Arab tribes in West Darfur, resulting in both sides mobilising. The UN has reported that the dispute is based on the division of land, pasture, and water resources, though the conflict originally was largely based in ethnic cleavages in Sudan.
Displaced Darfuri citizens feel frustrated over the lack of change following the former President al-Bashir’s tyranny over Sudan– under the new government, the region continues to see the same abusive forces targeting civilians. In the previous December, the UN Security Council voted to end the joint African Union peace keeping force in Darfur, a move which was vocally criticized by the civilians and the Sudan government. The new Sudan government has asserted that they intent to assume full responsibility for civilian security, and comply with international standards. Since al-Bashir was outed from his seat as president, the transition of government was both turbulent and fragile– Darfur faced the greatest turmoil, especially as the region was already in a precarious position with the violence. The spike in violence in recent months comes with a call to action to UNAMID (joint task force) from civilians to redeploy troops to protect those most affected by ongoing clashes.