Is slavery the main problem in Sudans war?
Slavery alerts us to the extremes of human rights abuse in Sudan, and to the racist history in the conflict. But it is vital not to overlook the many related atrocities committed against civilians in Southern Sudan, the Nuba Mountains of Kordofan, and elsewhere – including massacres, rape, aerial bombing and the wholesale destruction of villages. Since 1983, an estimated 1.5 million Sudanese people have died and at least five million fled their homes as a result of war. It is government policy to force hundreds of thousands of war-displaced people into “peace villages”. These are internment camps: people are denied their liberty and forced to work for little or no pay in appalling conditions. Families are split up, women are abused, men have to train and fight in the PDF militia. Children are taught a crude exclusionist Islam and made to Arabize theirnames and their language. Both sides in the war are using child soldiers and forced labour. RivalSouthern Sudanese factions have kidnappe
