History of Darfur in Timeline

Darfur is a region in western Sudan with a history of shifting rule. Originally named Dardaju by the Daju people around 350 AD, it became Dartunjur under the Tunjur. For centuries, Darfur existed as an independent sultanate. However, in 1874, it was conquered by the Sudanese warlord Rabih az-Zubayr. Subsequently, Anglo-Egyptian forces invaded and incorporated Darfur into Sudan in 1916, marking the end of its independent status.

1916: Invasion and incorporation into Sudan

In 1916, Anglo-Egyptian forces invaded Darfur and incorporated it into Sudan.

1916: Annexation of Darfur into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

In 1916, the British government, suspecting the sultan's Ottoman influence, launched an expedition from Egypt to capture and annex Darfur into the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.

1956: Sudan achieved political independence

In 1956, Sudan achieved political independence, continuing a pattern of skewed economic development.

August 1958: Ahmad Makki Abdo succeeds Ali Abdallah Abu Sinn

In August 1958, Ahmad Makki Abdo succeeded Ali Abdallah Abu Sinn as governor.

December 1959: Al-Tijani Sa'd replaces Ahmad Makki Abdo

In December 1959, al-Tijani Sa'd replaced Ahmad Makki Abdo as governor.

1973: Darfur population was 1.3 million

In 1973, Darfur's population was 1.3 million.

2003: Start of the War in Darfur

In 2003, the War in Darfur began between Sudanese government forces and the indigenous population, leading to a humanitarian emergency and genocide situation in the region.

2003: Peak of fighting in Darfur conflict

In 2003, the fighting in Darfur reached a peak with the beginning of the Darfur conflict, where resistance coalesced into a rebel movement.

March 2004: Conflict regarded as humanitarian disaster

In March 2004, human-rights groups and the UN regarded the Darfur conflict as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

2006: Transitional Darfur Regional Authority Established

In 2006, the Darfur Peace Agreement established a Transitional Darfur Regional Authority as an interim authority for the region.

2006: Darfur Peace Agreement Signed

In 2006, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi signed a Darfur Peace Agreement.

April 2007: Minni Minnawi becomes chair of the authority

In April 2007, Minni Minnawi became the first chair of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority.

2007: Minni Minnawi Appointed Senior Assistant to the President

In 2007, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Minni Minnawi, was appointed Senior Assistant to the President of Sudan and Chairman of the transitional authority.

2008: Darfur's budget was US$286 million

In 2008, Darfur's budget was US$286 million.

2008: Darfur's Population

In 2008, Darfur's population was 7.5 million.

December 2010: Shartai Jaafar Abdel Hakam succeeds Minni Minnawi

In December 2010, Shartai Jaafar Abdel Hakam succeeded Minni Minnawi as the chair of the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority.

December 2010: Talks with Sudanese Government

In December 2010, representatives of the Liberation and Justice Movement started a fresh round of talks with the Sudanese Government in Doha, Qatar which ended on December 19 without a new peace agreement, but participants agreed on basic principles.

2010: UN Estimate of Deaths

By 2010, the UN estimated that about 300,000 people had died in the Darfur conflict, and about 3,000,000 were forced into refugee camps.

January 2011: Liberation and Justice Movement Accepts Peace Proposals

In January 2011, Dr. Tijani Sese, the leader of the Liberation and Justice Movement, stated that the movement had accepted the core proposals of the Darfur peace document proposed by the joint-mediators in Doha.

February 2011: Sudanese Government Rejects Single Region Idea

In February 2011, the Sudanese Government rejected the idea of a single region headed by a vice-president from the region.

July 2011: Transitional Darfur Regional Authority Reconstituted

In July 2011, the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority was reconstituted as the Darfur Regional Authority with executive and legislative functions.

September 2011: Tijani Sese Assumed Chairperson Post

On 20 September 2011, Tijani Sese assumed the post of chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority.

2015: UN Discussion on UNAMID Withdrawal

As of 2015, the United Nations was in discussion with the Government of Sudan over the withdrawal of UNAMID, the peacekeeping force, which is the largest in the world.

July 2016: Dissolution of the Darfur Regional Authority

In July 2016, the Darfur Regional Authority was dissolved following a referendum on the status of the Darfur region within Sudan.

August 2020: Signing of the Juba Agreement

On 31 August 2020, the Juba Agreement was signed in Juba, South Sudan, between the Sudanese authorities and rebel factions to end armed hostilities.

August 2021: Re-establishment of Darfur Regional Government

In August 2021, as part of the Sudanese transition to democracy, a Darfur Regional Government was re-established with Minni Minawi as Regional Governor.

2021: Continued tribal clashes during 2021

During 2021, tribal clashes had continued, despite the Juba Agreement.

2025: Establishment of a rival regional administration

In 2025, the rival Government of Peace and Unity established a parallel regional administration following their takeover of the Darfur region during the Sudanese civil war.