Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is facing a possible trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over charges he orchestrated genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. Here is a quick timeline of the conflict in Darfur:

Conflict timeline:

2003

February: Sudanese rebels launched many attacks in Darfur, demanding the end to marginalisation and injustice in the region. The rebels accused the government of favouring Arabs over black Africans and attacked government targets in several towns. The government deployed troops to retaliate, supported by pro-government militias which targeted the rebels, destroying villages that supported them.

October: Following the devastating conflict, the United Nations urged worldwide support to end the conflict, calling on donors to send aid for the thousands of refugees crossing the border from Darfur into Chad.

2004

As the conflict progressed, a UN official described Sudan's campaign in Darfur against the non-Arab population was “ethnic cleansing''. However, continuing peace talks then led to a ceasefire agreement between Khartoum and both rebel groups. The African Union decided to step in to aid the peace process, and sent in protection troops in August.

This same year, the United States termed the atrocities committed in Darfur as “genocide''. The UN does not share this assessment.

2005

The UN Security Council urges the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to probe individuals suspected of having committed atrocities in Darfur. Khartoum establishes its own tribunal later that year. Meanwhile, further peace talks continue but the campaign of destruction does not end. A highly specialised rebel force of men wailing weapons while on horseback known as the Janjaweed murder 75 people in eastern Chad. Many of those killed were civilians.

2006

Showing some glimpse of hope, the government reached a peace agreement with the Sudan Liberation Movement but two other rebel groups, including the JEM boycotted it. Also that year, a peacekeeping force established by the UN Security Council is refused entry into Sudan by the government.

2007

The ICC builds its case against Sudan, naming a Sudanese minister and a Janjaweed militia leader as suspects, a charge Sudan ignores saying the court does not have jurisdiction.

A joint African Union-UN force known as Unamid is deployed to aid all refugees. However, peacekeepers are not safe in the region, and are frequently attacked by forces.

2008

In July, the ICC prosecutor asks judges to issue an arrest warrant against Sudan President Omar Al Bashir for masterminding the genocide in Darfur, committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Who are the rebels?

The two main rebel groups include the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA). However, constant disagreement has led to the groups being splintered into many different sub-groups, the result of which is that now there are about seven rebel factions. This situation only strains the peace deal.


Who are the Janjaweed?

The Janjaweed is term given to describe mostly armed gunmen in Darfur. It is translated to mean “devil on horseback", or "a man with a gun on a horse''. According to the United Nations definition, the Janjaweed include members of Arabic-speaking black African tribes. They are in conflict with both of the Darfur rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement.