The SLA In the Sudan

I have become extremely moved by the genocide in Darfur and Cannot believe that a genocide is happening in 2008. The innocent children of Darfur are being murdered, raped and killed everyday. The "lucky" ones join militia groups like the SLA, which is the Sudan Liberation Army. These children are almost always displaced from their villages that have been burned down by the Janjaweed and therefore turn the the SLA for guidance and protection. Their families have been killed and their homes have been torn away from them. I am reading "Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival". There is an entire chapter on the SLA and many stories of children being affected by the genocide. Suleiman is a humanitarian coordinator for the SLA that was interviewed and he shared his story. Suleiman explained how since 1965, the government of Sudan has tried to marginalize the large african tribes that have residing in Sudan for years. He talks about how there is no education, no health care, and there is no development in many of these villages and areas. The government in Khartoum has lacked in almost every area to supply the people of the country with basic needs. He explains the reason that the Arab tribes are fighting this war is for land. Suleiman claims that the government wants to “cleanse” the area and replace it with arabs, therefore this is the reason the SLA is fighting. They believe that they have two options, either to fight and live or to wait and be killed. The SLA is not fighting the Arabs, but they are fighting the government that support the Janjaweed, Suleiman states. These children have nothing left in life therefore they turn to the SLA for guidance and help.