Sudan: Enduring Issues, Challenges and Policy

Date of Graduation

Spring 2005

Degree

Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies

Department

Defense and Strategic Studies

Committee Chair

C. Walton

Abstract

Sudan is a country rich in history and conflict. Sudan poses a complex problem because it is plagued by disease, famine, corrupt government, and violent opposition to the government. Islam is the state religion, strictly enforced, and the goal of the militant Islamic government is to drive all the non-Muslim African Southerners away from oil deposits and spread the Islamism of the North to the South. The government-sponsored militant group called the Janjaweed pillages, rapes and murders Christians, animists, and some Muslims, and is not deterred or punished for its actions. The United States has a strategic interest in Sudan because the country is situated in Eastern Africa and borders the Red Sea and the central Middle East region. This thesis will examine the issues facing Sudan, particularly its relationship with the United States and the problem of terrorism. The topic of Sudan has produced heated discussions in hearings held by the United States and the United Nations as to how to deal with the country. The United States has an interest in Sudan because of the latter’s role in state-sponsored terrorism. While the United States would like to work with Sudan to combat the problem, the U.S. relationship with Sudan is strained and neither country trusts the other. Similar to other troubled nations in the region, Sudan is in chaos and most likely will remain so. Until the country can establish domestic stability as well as a solid stance against terrorism, it will never have a serious relationship with the United States.

Keywords

Sudan, state-sponsored terrorism, Osama bin Laden, Islamism, genocide

Subject Categories

Defense and Security Studies

Copyright

© Brittany K. Hogan

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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