African Conflicts

1. African Conflicts

2. The deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, political, or cultural group Genocide

3. Started in 1945 192 current member countries Purpose: to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and address international problems Issues include: poverty, disease, illiteracy, environment, human rights Each country has one vote The United Nations

4. Both of the following must be present for the UN to declare genocide: • 1.) Mental Element – this means there needs to be an intent or plan to destroy a group of people • 2.) Physical element – any evidence of the following being committed: • Killing members of a group • Causing serious bodily or mental harm to a group • Inflicting conditions of life to bring about the destruction of a group • Preventing births in the group • Forcibly transferring children from one group to another • Punishable forms of the crime of genocide: genocide, conspiracy, incitement, attempt and complicity U.N. Criteria For of Genocide

5. Sudan

6. Egypt controlled Sudan • Great Britain colonized Egypt • also took over Sudan • Independent in 1956 • Ethnic power struggles • Arab Africans vs. Black Africans • Dictatorship took control • extremist Arab/Muslim Sudan’s History

7. Sudanese Population • Divided into northern and southern region • 61% of the population can read • Blacks make up 52% and Arabs make up 39% of the population

8. President supposed to be elected every 5 years • No limit to re-elections • In 1983, Islamic Law became law of land • Everyone forced to obey the Laws of Islam, regardless of religious beliefs • Civil war broke out between north (Muslim) and south (Christian) • General Omar Bashir staged a coup (takeover) and has been in total control for 20 years • Bashir is the leader of a radical Arab Muslim group • Goal = entire nation of only Arab Muslims • Target Black Christians and Animists Government Problems

9. Discovered oil in 1978 in southern Sudan • Arab/Muslim north fought Black/Christian south for control • Military government won control of the oil • This keeps the south in poverty • Government does not give any profits to the south Conflicts Over Oil

10. Region in the west • In 2003, Black Sudanese rebelled • government neglected them • In 2004, Government army attacked to stop rebellion • Government hired radical Arab militia to carry out killings of Darfur villagers • Called Janjaweed = “Devil on Horseback” • U.N. declares it genocide Darfur

11. Sudanese government planned out the killings of the Black Africans in their own country Mass-murder was organized and issued by General Bashir (president) His intention is to oppress and eliminate non-Arab/Muslim Africans in Sudan This Means…

12. Today… • Held first elections in 24 years in Feb. 2010 • Gen. Bashir won with 68% of vote • 2011 vote determined Southern Sudan could become an independent nation in July

13. First sitting head of state to ever be indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) • 2009 • Charged with 5 counts of Crimes Against Humanity • (murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape) • 2 counts of War Crimes • (pillaging and intentionally directing attacks against civilians) • 2010 • Charged with 3 counts of Genocide • #’s 1, 2, & 3 General Omar al-Bashir

14. Rwanda

15. Ethnic History • Region first organized into kingdoms • Hutus and Tutsis were two major tribes • By 1800’s one kingdom dominated the land • Sparked tension between Hutus and Tutsis • Kingdom fell to Germans

16. German colony from 1884-1916 • Became Belgian colony in 1919 • Belgian government preferred Tutsis over Hutus • Tutsis were minority (15%) • Hutus majority (85%) • Tutsis given more rights and freedoms • Government required Hutus to carry ID cards • Sparked class warfare over the next 75 years Colonial History

17. Became independent nation in 1962 • After giving up control, Belgium began to favor Hutu majority • Hutus killed & exiled Tutsis to neighboring Burundi • Hutu President Habyarimana seized control in 1973 • Government began threatening Tutsi elimination Rwandan Independence

18. Civil war erupted in 1990 • Tutsi refugees invaded • attempted to overthrow Hutu government • Hutus believed Tutsis were responsible for all problems • In April 1994, President Habyarimana was assassinated in a plane crash • Believed plane shot down by Tutsi rebels • Final straw between two tribes Tension Boils Over

19. Approximately 100 days long Estimated 800,000 Tutsi massacred in villages across Rwanda Hutu military carried out murders Tutsi rebel-group Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) defeated Hutu militia Rwandan government replaced by Tutsi President Paul Kagame Tutsi Genocide

20. 1996 Rwandan government held genocide trials of many government officials • 22 were killed for their role in the murders • U.N. not supportive of the punishment of death • 1998 U.N. held trials • Found 2 guilty of Crimes Against Humanity • Sentenced to life in prison Criminal Charges

21. South Africa & Apartheid

22. Dutch were first to settle on the southern tip of Africa • Set up a “rest stop” for passing ships • Turned into Cape Colony • Most Dutch settlers were farmers • Boers = farmers The Boers

23. 1775 – British invade and occupy Cape Colony For 100 years, these countries fight several wars for control of Cape Colony 1910 – Union of South Africa is formed 1931 – Officially becomes a part of Great Britain British vs. Dutch

24. Apartheid = “Apartness” in Afrikaans • Segregated white South Africans from black South Africans • South Africans were classified by race • White • Indian (also a colony of Great Britian • Coloured (mixed race) • Black Apartheid

25. Apartheid Laws • Races separated into specific geographic locations • 87% of land reserved for only 20% of population • White, Indians, & coloured • Created “homelands” for blacks • 13% of land divided into 10 homelands • No longer citizens of S. Africa (no vote) • Deemed “guest laborers” • Had to carry a pass • Could not intermarry • Could not employ white person • Black police could not arrest a white person • Could not get a S. Africa passport • Had to carry a passbook from their “homeland” • Could not travel

26. Anti-Apartheid Movement • U.N. declared Apartheid a crime against humanity • African National Congress (ANC) promoted civil disobedience of unjust laws • ANC leader = Nelson Mandela • Sentenced to life in prison for treason • = betraying your country • International Sanctions: • World refused to trade with S. Africa • Companies refused to invest in S. African companies • Banned from Olympics • Boycotted tourism to S. Africa

27. 1980’s – Only government to have segregation laws constitutional • Attempted to eliminate the opposition through police & military • Concealed activity through censorship • Kept foreigners out • Restricted television & newspaper reports Government Resistance

28. 1989 – Prime Minister repeals Apartheid laws • 1990 – Apartheid abolished • 1992 – vote to amend the constitution & give equal rights to citizens • 1994 – Nelson Mandela elected president in first multi-racial election • President until 1999 Apartheid Ends

29. Uganda

30. Former colony of Great Britain • Gained independence in 1962 • Debate over whether to be a fully united country or to allow the various kingdoms to have some self-rule • Established a republic form of government • Milton Obote elected prime minister • Mutesa II appointed as president • Position with not much power Colonial History & Independence

31. 1966 Obote staged a coup (takeover) which exiles the president • Led by his army commander, IdiAmin • Obote introduced a new constitution • Abolished all kingdoms • Appointed himself as executive president and prime minister (dictator) • Used his military to suppress any opposition to his newfound power The Rise of Dictatorships

32. IDI Amin • 1971, while Obote was overseas, Amin staged a coup • Overthrows Obote • Becomes new dictator • Exiles all Asians • Targets all tribes other than his own • Estimated 500,000 Ugandans murdered or tortured during his reign • Goal to rid Uganda of all people who are not in his tribe

33. 1978 Amin invaded Tanzania • Tanzanian military defeat Amin • Obote and small army of exiled Ugandans help • Amin fled to Saudi Arabia • Lived there until his death Overthrow of Amin

34. Obote is put back in power by another military coup in 1980 • Elections officially place him back as president • During his presidency Obote used violence to maintain his rule • Allows tribes to carry out massacres against each other • Obote finally exiled again in 1985 • Replaced by guerilla army leader YoweriMuseveni Obote Returns

35. Museveni still in power today as president • Under his rule, stability and economic growth has returned • New constitution of 1996 allowed only for one party to be in control • National Resistance Movement • All parties, however, are welcome to share ideas • Rights granted in the constitution include: • universal suffrage (voting) • the secret ballot • a free press • separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers Uganda Today

36. Democratic Republic of Congo

37. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) colonized in 1885 by Belgians • Called Congo Free State • Under the leadership of King Leopold II • 1908 King Leopold gave up control • Renamed Belgian Congo • Belgians sought to convert Congolese to their Christian views • Had no interest in maintaining native cultures Colonial History

38. In late 1950’s, many African colonies asking for independence • Belgians knew they could not hold on to their land much longer without violence • Granted independence in 1960 • Became Republic of the Congo • Belgians left the country in instability • Tribal leaders left to fight over control • No one left with any knowledge of how to run a government • Elections held in 1960 • Patrice Lumumba named prime minister • Joseph Kasavubu named president Independence

39. Shortly after independence military revolt against their officers • Looted the capital • Murdered the Prime Minister • 1964-1965 ½ of the country taken hostage by rebels • US, European, and Belgian troops sent to help Political Unrest Unfolds

40. 1965 General Mobutu seized control of government using military force • Declared himself president for 5 years • Reelected in 1970 • Renamed the country Zaire • Made all citizens adopt African names • Maintained control through the 1980’s • Began using force to eliminate opposition Mobutu SeseSeko

41. Controversy Over Mobutu • 1990’s brought scrutiny to Mobutu’s methods of power • Accusations of human rights violations • Accusations of corruption • Embezzlement of government funds

42. 1996 Hutu refugees from Rwanda living in Zaire • Sending rebels from these camps to attacks new Tutsi government in Rwanda • Soon joined with Congolese Hutus to attack Congolese Tutsi in DRC • Tutsis formed their own militia to defend themselves • Warfare began between these two groups • Uganda and Rwanda joined Tutsi militia • Began rebellion against Mobutu Congolese Wars

43. 1997 Mobutu exiled • Replaced by Laurent Kabila • Named himself president • Changed country to DRC • Kabila assassinated in 2001 • Replaced by his son, Joseph • Present-day president of DRC Mobutu Overthrown

44. Continued instability and fighting • Involved in border dispute with Rwanda • Continued attacks between these nations • Rebellions • Lack of water • Food supply shortages DRC Today