Comments on: Making Sense of Darfur’s Arabs http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/darfur/2008/03/12/making-sense-of-darfurs-arabs/ Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:20:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Alex de Waal http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/darfur/2008/03/12/making-sense-of-darfurs-arabs/#comment-1551 Alex de Waal Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:38:33 +0000 http://www.ssrc.org/blog/2008/03/12/making-sense-of-darfurs-arabs/#comment-1551 The UN and AU have drawn up a conflict map which is helpful in identifying the numerous local conflicts that continue to rage in different parts of Darfur, and the actors involved. But to my knowledge, no-one has yet developed such a comprehensive matrix. The main difficulty that would be entailed is that each grouping is not a constant entity--all are prone to splits and all have multiple and overlapping allegiances. None of the labels, "African" and Arab, pro-Government or rebel, are simple. Everyone has lines open to everyone else. The UN and AU have drawn up a conflict map which is helpful in identifying the numerous local conflicts that continue to rage in different parts of Darfur, and the actors involved. But to my knowledge, no-one has yet developed such a comprehensive matrix. The main difficulty that would be entailed is that each grouping is not a constant entity–all are prone to splits and all have multiple and overlapping allegiances. None of the labels, “African” and Arab, pro-Government or rebel, are simple. Everyone has lines open to everyone else.

]]> By: Vagn Sparre-Ulrich http://www.ssrc.org/blogs/darfur/2008/03/12/making-sense-of-darfurs-arabs/#comment-1538 Vagn Sparre-Ulrich Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:09:02 +0000 http://www.ssrc.org/blog/2008/03/12/making-sense-of-darfurs-arabs/#comment-1538 Thanks for an interesting briefing on the latest political developments within the Arab heartland of Darfur. Is it possible to have a comprehensive matrix developed on the different ethnic groups in Darfur at "tribal levels", their political affiliations (Khartoum, N'Djamena, other), approximate size and influence, Arab or "African", neutral/polarized, partners of the Janjaweed/SLA etc, so that one can follow the patchwork of developing political affiliations? Or, alternatively, has this already been done? Because your presentation only gives a limited view of what is actually going at a more comprehensive political level within Darfur. Thanks for an interesting briefing on the latest political developments within the Arab heartland of Darfur.

Is it possible to have a comprehensive matrix developed on the different ethnic groups in Darfur at “tribal levels”, their political affiliations (Khartoum, N’Djamena, other), approximate size and influence, Arab or “African”, neutral/polarized, partners of the Janjaweed/SLA etc, so that one can follow the patchwork of developing political affiliations?

Or, alternatively, has this already been done?

Because your presentation only gives a limited view of what is actually going at a more comprehensive political level within Darfur.

]]>