Colonialism and 20th Century
Conflicts in Africa
Directions: Answer the
numbered questions on a
separate piece of paper.
From Hotel Rwanda
Georges Rutaganda
Paul Rusesabagina
and Bob Dole
These are
few of the
men wanted
in
connection
to the
Rwandan
genocide.
The Rwandan Civil War and Genocide are
not isolated incidents. Check out the
following list of armed conflicts in the
African continent during the 20th Century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conflicts_in_Africa
1. Write the name of at least three conflicts as you
check out the list.
Why so much bloodshed?
One of several reasons: colonialism
•During the late 1800s and early 1900s Africa was conquered by
European powers for economic and political reasons. This is
known as colonialism.
•When African people received their independence, many of the
countries and governments were created by the departing
European authorities without much consideration of the many
ethnic and cultural differences.
•As the Europeans left Africa, many conflicts have followed as
competing African cultures, races and religions fight for power
within their countries.
2. What is colonialism and how
did it contribute to the many
African conflicts in the 20th
century?
By the early to mid
1900s, Africa had
been colonized by
European countries.
3. Which two
European
countries owned
the most African
land?
4. Which two
African countries
were never
colonized?
Most African
countries gained
their independence
between 1950-2000.
5. Which two
decades saw the
most African
countries gain
independence?
6. Which was the
latest to
become
independent?
The latest African conflict to receive world
attention is the Darfur conflict in Sudan.
The War in Darfur is a conflict that is in the Darfur
region of western Sudan. Unlike the Second
Sudanese Civil War, the current lines of conflict are
seen by some reporters (such as those with USA
Today and Slate magazine) to be ethnic, rather than
religious.[6] However, a United Nations report[7] states
that the various tribes under attack by the Sudanese
troops and Janjaweed (chiefly the Fur, Masalit and
Zaghawa tribes) do not appear to have a distinct
ethnicity from their attackers. There is controversy
over whether the conflict involves a genocide or not.
(See the list of genocide declarations and the
following list of statements opposing such
declarations, below.)
One side of the armed conflicts is composed mainly of the Sudanese
military and the Janjaweed, a Sudanese militia group recruited
mostly from the Afro-Arab Abbala tribes of the northern Rizeigat
region in Sudan. They are mainly camel-herding nomads. The other
side comprises a variety of rebel groups, notably the Sudan
Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality
Movement, recruited primarily from the land-tilling non-Arab Fur,
Zaghawa, and Masalit ethnic groups. The Sudanese government,
while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided
money and assistance to the militia and has participated in joint
attacks targeting the tribes from which the rebels draw support.[8][9]
The conflict began in February 2003. Since the start of the conflict,
about 450,000 people have been killed, and 3,000,000 people have
been displaced.
Excerpt from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_conflict
Janjaweed: Afro-Arab Militia
Sudanese
Military
The Rebels
Sudan Liberation
Movement Army
Justice and Equality Movement
The conflict between these groups has led to many deaths and
many displaced people. The following link leads to a website
with more information.
http://www.thewe.cc/contents/more/archive/darfur_sudan.html
The African Union has sent peacekeeping troops into the
Sudan but they are limited in their actions.
7. What purpose, if any, do peacekeeping forces like this
one and the U.N. in Rwanda serve?
What responsibility do you, the
United States and the United
Nations have with regard to the
situation in Darfur?
Write at least a ½ page response were you answer this
question for any or all three of the people mentioned.
Support your answer with your thoughts, facts and details (be
sure to explain your support).