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Two anti-government groups rise up
They are saying that Khartoum neglects Arid region and arms Arab militia against civilians -
Rebels attack a Sudanese government air force base
Blaming decades of government oppression, Muslim, non-Arab rebels from the Darfur Liberation Front (DLF) attack the Sudanese air force base in Al-Fashir. The DLF later splits into two movements: the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). -
The U.S. administration labels the events in Darfur “genocide."
Colin Powell, US secretary of state, describes Darfur killings as genocide. UN doesn´t agree and says that Sudan had not met targets for disarming pro-government militias and must accept outside help to protect civilians. -
UN takes action
UN Security Council authorizes sanctions against those who violate the ceasefire in Darfur. Council also votes to refer those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. -
Activists rally in major cities around the world calling on Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers into Darfur.
Sudan says African Union troops must leave Darfur when their mandate expires at the end of the month, raising fears that the region would descend into full-blown war. -
UN gets to Sudan
Sudan agrees in principle to accept the deployment of UN troops in Darfur as part of an expanded peacekeeping force. -
Talking about peace starts
Darfur peace talks open in Libya and the government declares an immediate unilateral ceasefire, but important anti-government groups are absent. -
Al-Bashir pledges more co-operation with Unamid to secure the passage of aid convoys, along with up to $350m of spending on development in the region.
The UN says up to 300,000 people have died in Darfur and some 2.5 million have fled their homes since 2003. -
ICC order the arrest of al-Bashir on seven charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, the first warrant issued for a sitting head of state.
Al-Bashir expels 13 international aid organizations accusing them of working with the ICC on the arrest warrant. Three local groups are also shut down. Jem rebels pull out of the second round of peace talks scheduled to be held in Doha in April and demand that the aid groups are allowed to return. -
Appeals chamber of the ICC directs judges to rethink their decision to omit genocide from the warrant out for al-Bashir's arrest.
Idriss Deby, Chad's president, makes a landmark trip to Khartoum. He and al-Bashir announce the intention to normalize ties. Later Jem announces accord with Sudan's government leading to the ceasefire, to be signed in Qatar.
