SOUTHEN SUDAN An estimated 1.5 million people died during the 21-year civil war in Southern Sudan. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army was formed after Sharia Law was introduced to the country. Problems were intensified by the discovery of oil in Southern Sudan. During the conflict much of the infrastructure of Southern Sudan was destroyed. A peace agreement was drawn up in 2003 and finally signed in 2005.
DARFUR In 2004 the government began attacking the people in Darfur, in the West of Sudan. To date, more than 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur and the number is still rising. China has been accused of supplying the government with new weapons to use against its people and using its UN veto to support the Sudanese government in what has been described as a genocide. The Chinese government has a large interest in oil in the Sudan.
In July 2008, the International Criminal Court's top prosecutor called for the arrest of President Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The appeal to the court's judges is the first ever request to the ICC for the arrest of a sitting head of state.
