Jihad and Slavery in Sudan

Excerpts:
The longest war of this century is still in progress and is intensifying - in the largest country in Africa, Sudan. The Muslim Arab North has been attacking the Christians in the Black South. The death toll since 1955 is estimated at 2 million.

The atrocities have been the most severe in the Nuba Mountains. Most of the villages and churches have been destroyed, hundreds of Christians crucified, and over one million people have been forced into concentration camps. Christian soldiers, who are literally fighting for their lives, point out that the Christians in Sudan have a heritage of standing firm as a bulwark against the expansion of militant Islam into Central Africa - for 14 centuries.

One Christian leader described the process leading up to the wholesale destruction of church buildings and slaughter of Christians:

"In 1985 we were told to register our arms so we could be given ammunition. But it was a trick. All the ammunition was given to the Arabs. And in 1987 the government came and confiscated all the rifles."

In 1992 the GOS declared that Jihad (Holy War) officially existed against the Nuba. Iranian military advisors flew in to assist in the training and deployment of the Mujahidiin. First they instituted a vicious purge within the army, removing all officers who were not considered supportive. Then they unleashed an unprecedentedly large military offensive against the Nuba.

Helicopter gunships, MIG-23 fighter bombers and Antonov aircraft began the aerial bombardment of market places and villages. A massive ground assault on Jebel Tullishi was repeatedly repelled by the SPLA and finally the GOS forces withdrew.

A massive campaign of forced removals was then launched. Hundreds of thousands of Nuba people were forced at gunpoint to abandon their villages - which were burnt - and they were marched to concentration camps (euphemistically called "peace camps"). These unfortunate people suffered dreadful hardships without adequate food or medical care over the long forced marches and in the camps where they were finally dumped.

A central component of the genocide is the Sudan government's policy of mass rape. Every Nuba woman who has been in a "peace camp" has either been raped or threatened with rape. Girls as young as 9 years old have been raped - with the soldiers justifying this child abuse from the Hadith - that Mohammed had married Aisha at 9 years old! Woman have been raped as they were abducted, gang raped on arrival at garrisons and repeatedly raped in "peace camps" or labour camps, or forcibly "married" to Muslim soldiers for the duration of their tours of duty. The aim of this sexual and slavery policy has been to destroy the social fabric of Nuba society.

Africa: Sudan

Country Report Last Updated: August 2001

Code: A-1, 2, 3

(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Sudan .)
List of Articles Last Updated: June 2, 2001

COUNTRY STATISTICS

Area: 2,505,810 sq km
Capital: Khartoum
Main Cities: Bur Sudan, Omdurman
Population: 34,475,690
Population Growth: 2.71%
Birth Rate: 39.34 births/ 1000 people
Death Rate: 10.6 deaths/ 1000 people
Infant Mortality: 70.94 deaths/ 1000 live births
Life Expectancy: 56.4 years
Languages: Arabic, Nubian

Religions: Sunni Muslim, indigenous religions, Christianity
Ethnic Groups: black, Arabic
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (£Sd)= 100 piastres
Exchange Rate: 1819.70 £Sd=$US 1
Total GDP: $31.2 billion
Per Capita PPP: $930
Imports: $1.42 billion
Exports: $594 million

(Source: CIA World Fact Book 1999)

Religious Atmosphere:It is estimated that 70% of this country's people are Sunni Muslims. 9.9% belong to tribal religions and 19% are Christians. The Muslim population is concentrated in the north, while the Christians and animists live in the south or in the Nuba mountain range in central Sudan. A state of civil war has existed between the Muslims and non-Muslims for 14 years. Factions within the government have been making various attempts at Islamicizing the country more and more.

Extremist Groups:

Popular Defense Force (PDF) - This is a government-sponsored group that is larger and better equipped than the standing army. This group it known to have its ranks filled with the most fanatical Muslim fighters. They often engage in actions against the rebel forces in the South. Since these actions are done with government support or in coordination with government forces, their actions are listed with those of the government.

It is reported that the government gives weapons to various Muslim tribes to increase their effectiveness in conducting slave and cattle raids against non-Muslim peoples in the South. These Arab militias, which often use the names Mujahadeen (holy warriors) or Murahaleen often fight alongside government forces. Their actions are also listed with those of the government.

Government:

	Though it has been stated by the National Islamic Front (NIF), the current military regime, that religious freedom is respected, Islam is the de facto state religion. The acronym GoS (Government of Sudan) is often used to identify government forces.
	Forced conversions to Islam is a part of government policy.
	Churches are often closed, destroyed, or not allowed to be built.
	Christian home groups are considered to be a public disturbance and Bible teachers are considered to be the leaders of these public disturbances and are arrested.
	Open preaching is prohibited and punishable by beating or a jail sentence.
	Many Islamic principles are accepted as customs, such as giving the testimony of a Christian man half the weight of that given to a Muslim man. Christians are under constant pressure to convert to Islam.
	Christians are commonly discriminated against in the workplace and rarely receive promotions.

Recent Actions:

	Ongoing - The NIF regime declared a jihad (holy war) against the religious and ethnic minorities that resist forced Islamization. It is estimated that 2 million people have died in the conflict and five million out of the eight million people that live in the South have been displaced since the fighting began in 1983. The strategy used by the NIF and its accomplices can be considered a scorched earth policy. Areas are sealed off by road and air and government forces move in. Units are often sent into areas and told to "depopulate" the area. Mines are often sown on important roads and paths. All the people and livestock are taken or killed and all structures are destroyed. People are forcibly relocated to "peace camps." In these camps, the young are taken away from their parents and sent to other camps for indoctrination by Islamic fundamentalists. There are numerous reports that the young men taken away are trained as soldiers and sent to fight in the South. These soldiers, along with many northern conscripts, are referred to as suicide soldiers, as their use in battle is less than efficient. They are given a key to wear around their necks and told that it is the key to heaven an that should they die, they will instantly go there. Also in these camps, young women and girls have been forced to do manual labor on farms and are sexually abused by their captors. When food is scarce in the camps, only those who have converted to Islam are given enough to eat.
	Ongoing – Data compiled by humanitarian aid workers in southern Sudan estimate that government forces have bombed civilian and humanitarian targets at least 113 times in the year 2000.
	Ongoing – Various reports at the end of 2000 confirmed that slavery is still taking place with the knowledge of the government. Approximately 14,000 women and children remain "abducted" according to the UN. Women who have escaped slavery reported being beaten, being forced to do domestic chores and to perform sexual favors for their captors. Most of them had been raped and many were impregnated by their rapists.

	August 26, 2001 – A 13-year-old girl was critically injured after the Government of Sudan dropped six bombs from a high altitude Antonov bomber over a camp for the displaced coordinated by the Catholic Relief Services in Ngaluma. Four minutes later over the town of Ikotos, four bombs destroyed four homes, and then the bomber continued to Hiyala where it dropped four additional bombs.
	July 26, 2001 – Talks between Sudanese Defense Minister Bakri Saleh and Saudi Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz discussed the possibility of military links. Arab diplomatic sources said the Saudi kingdom intends to help Sudan enter the Arab and international community after years of isolation. Sudan also wants to receive support from Saudi Arabia to bolster Khartoum’s security services. The capitol of Sudan, Khartoum, remains on the US State Department list of terrorist sponsors.
	June 24, 2001 – A GOS plane bombed civilians in the town of Raga, southwest Sudan, killing 6 people and injuring several others. Earlier attacks on the town resulted in the death of 4 people and damage to a church school.
	May 28, 2001 – SPLA rebels claimed the GOS had burned 14 villages in the Nuba mountains, destroying 5,000 homes.
	May 24, 2001 – GOS bombers dropped 14 bombs on Tonj in the Bahr el Ghazal region during a morning and an afternoon raid. Meanwhile, the government of Sudan announced a cessation of air raids to begin on May 25.
	May 9, 2001 – An International Committee of the Red Cross co-pilot was killed during a government permitted flight from Lokichokio, Kenya to the Juba region of Suden. The 26-year-old Dane was struck in the head by gunfire from the ground. This incident has led the ICRC to suspend all flights indefinitely.
	May 3, 2001 – President George W. Bush appointed Andrew Natsios special humanitarian coordinator for Sudan and promised to take more steps to help the starving people of southern Sudan and speak out against the atrocities taking place in the war-torn country.
	April 22, 2001 – A government bomber dropped 16 bombs on the town of Narus, critically injuring a child and destroying part of a Catholic school.
	April 19, 2001 – People being held in connection with the canceled Easter celebration (see April 11 below) were freed from prison after 8 days by the order of President Bashir. A day prior to their release the first Vice President of the Republic reportedly stated that "the world now knows and should know that Sudan is an Islamic country and we will not allow any prayers except Islamic prayers in our country." A BBC reporter remains in detention.
	April 16, 2001 – The Kauda airstrip in the Nuba mountains was bombed. Bishop Macarm Max Gassis was almost hit by the bombers as he was preparing to leave the area after a pastoral visit. Two people were seriously injured.
	April 11, 2001 – Riot police surrounded the Episcopal All-Saints cathedral in Khartoum as people gathered outside the church to pray and church leaders inside the building were holding a press conference regarding the cancellation of their Easter celebration (see below). Clashes between the Christian worshippers and police broke out, resulting in the arrest of 54 more Christians and the injury of at least 7 people. Four women and two children were given 15 lashes and 47 men were sentenced to jail 20 day jail terms as well as receiving 20 lashes each. In addition to the arrests, church property was also destroyed by police using hand grenades.
	April 10, 2001 – People gathered in Khartoum for an Easter celebration to be led by evangelist Reinhart Bonnke of Germany were beaten by police who used teargas and batons to disperse the crowd. Fifty-six people were arrested and three were struck by bullets. A day before the event was to be held, the organizers of the event had been informed that they could not use the Green Square in the center of Khartoum, even though they had previously been given permission to do so. The government offered to allow the Easter celebration to take place at a location on the outskirts of the city. However, that location was unsuitable for the event and thus the celebration had to be canceled. There was insufficient time to pass the word on the cancellation. Thus many people showed up, only to be abused by the local police.
	March 8, 2001 – Two people were killed and four were taken hostage when GOS militia members attacked the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Kiickuon, Upper Nile province. Other aid workers were taken to safety in Nairobi, Kenya. The four kidnapped persons included two Sudanese and two Kenyans. Three have since been released.
	February 12, 2001 – A report was released that details a scorched earth campaign being carried out in the Bentiu area. This area is part of Swedish company, Lundin Oil’s, concession Block 5a. Reports from the ground indicate that there has been massive destruction of villages and the forced displacement of local people. Villages are first hit by bombs, then ground forces arrive to burn the village and food supply. Anyone found in the village is then killed. Elderly and children have been burned alive in their homes by GOS forces. Many of the displaced people from this area can no longer be reached by international aid workers as OLS employees no longer have access to airstrips in the area to deliver humanitarian aid.
	January 21, 2001 – Approximately 2,5000 GOS troops raided 15 villages in Aweil East County, killing at least 53 people and enslaving 72 women and children. Villages between Aweil and Akuem were torched.
	January 19, 2001 – The Fraser Cathedral in Lui was hit and severely damaged by bombs.
	January 18, 2001 – International Committee of the Red Cross medical facilities in Chelkou, Bahr-el-Ghazal province were looted and razed by ground forces of the PDF (Popular Defense Force), forcing the ICRC to withdraw all expatriate workers. The facilities had previously been bombed (see July 14, 2000 below).
	January 13, 2001 – Four villages in Aweil South County were attacked, resulting in 11 deaths and the displacement of over 2000 people. An additional 9 people were wounded and several children were enslaved by PDF forces.
	January 5, 2001 – 72 women and children were enslaved by PDF forces during raids on the towns of Achoro and Warnyil in Aweil East County.
	January 3, 2001 – Mustafa Osman Ismail, Foreign Minister of the Khartoum regime, announced that the government would not allow rebels to hide behind "human shields." This policy, in effect, justifies government bombing of civilian targets, including humanitarian aid centers.
	January 2001 – During the first week of the year a clinic operated by Across, a partner of Tearfund, was destroyed by bombs in Paluer. No staff were on duty at the time of the incident.
	December 26, 29, 2000 – Two bombing raids were carried out in Lui, the operation base for Samaritan’s Purse hospital. Two civilians were injured and an Anglican Church was heavily damaged.
	November 24, 2000 – In one of three bombing raids carried out by the Government of Sudan, the Panlit missionary school was hit by bombs, destroying two classrooms and causing nearly 700 students to flee into the bush.
	November 20, 2000 – At least three children were murdered and 24 were enslaved when PDF forces raided the Gog Nhom Elementary school in Aweil West County.
	December 26, 29, 2000 – Two bombing raids were carried out in Lui, the operation base for Samaritan’s Purse hospital. Two civilians were injured and an Anglican Church was heavily damaged.
	November 20-22, 2000 – Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, visited rebel-controlled areas of southern Sudan and met...(icc site cont'd - above link)

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