Viewing Guide: The Devil Came on Horseback

Introduction: In 2004, a ceasefire ended a 20-year civil war in Sudan between the
predominantly Muslim north and the Animist and Christian south. Former U.S. Marine
Captain Brian Steidle took a job (with the African Union) to monitor the ceasefire. In
less than 6 months, Brian would find himself witness to an emerging conflict in Darfur
(western Sudan) that threatened to ignite the entire region. The conflict started with
2 rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM), fighting for rights for the people of Darfur. They wanted equal
rights, to be able to own property, have education for their children. In April 2003
rebel groups attacked an airport in Al Fashir, Darfur, Sudan killing close to 75 people
and destroying a number of helicopters and aircraft on the ground. This caused the
government of Sudan to close the borders of Darfur, kick out all foreigners, and
launch a killing spree in Darfur.

Your first job as a geographer is to make observations. What do you

notice about?
1. The physical geography?
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2. Population and settlement?
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3. Culture?
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4. Politics?
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5. Economy and social development?
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The Sudanese government trained Arab militias called the
____________________________ , sent to attack and burn villages.
Janjaweed means _________________________________________________.

What country had a military force in Sudan to protect an oil pipeline?

_____________________________________ Who purchases about 80% of
Sudans oil? _____________________________________.
The name of the organization that is widely touted as the African
solution to African problems
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According to the Janjaweed, who is arming and training the Janjaweed?
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The narrator, Brian Steidle, said his African Union group sent about 80
reports with recommendations and observations about atrocities in
Darfur from Nyala to the headquarters of the African Union mission in
Al Fashir. The American Embassy received who many of these reports?
__________________________
According to a news report, this was a general humanitarian crisis that
was not being addressed. It is as though history gave us another
chance to redeem ourselves for ___________________________________,
and we are failing yet again.
In 2004 Colin Powell declared that __________________ was happening in
Darfur. After that both Houses of Congress and the President agreed
that that was what was happening there. That gave people hope for
action. But action from whom? UN?
Brian became discouraged after a new African Union commander
arrived in Darfur. Brian predicted an attack on town of Hamata. He
volunteered to take a group of 10 to set up a tent camp in town for its
protection. Commander denied his request. The Janjaweed attacked
town. Killed ________ people, smashed _________, hacked people up, left
note in Arabic saying we came here to fight you. You cant defend
your _________________. It made Brian feel like his group was doing
nothing. Even when they could predict was what going to happen, the
African Union __________________________________.
He said that in the Marine Corps they were taught to
________________________________, but in his job in Darfur they
_____________________________________.
Thats when Brian said, Im ______________________________. Thats it.
He collected everything. He wanted to spread the word about what
was happening on the ground in Sudan.

Your second job as a geographer is to compare and contrast what you

saw in the video. What do you think? What are the primary causes of
the unrest in the Darfur region of Sudan? What do you think might be
the best possible solution(s)? How does the concept of scale enter
into your thinking? There are at least two sides to every situation.
What could be an explanation for the actions of the Janjaweed?
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The first 45 minutes are about the conflict in Darfur. The video then shifts to refugee
camps in Chad. At 1:10:00 Brian goes to Rwanda and then on to the Hague to testify
before an international court.
The UN has passed more than 17 resolutions concerning Darfur. Unless these
resolutions are implemented and sanctions against Sudanese officials are enforced,
the violence and destruction will continue.
The African Union remains without authority to protect civilians and Sudan continues
to oppose sending UN troops into Darfur.
While the violence spreads into Chad and the Central African Republic, humanitarian
groups are pulling out of Darfur.
Since 2003, it is estimated that 400,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been
displaced from their homes.
1. Unarmed Observer (0:00)
2. The Conflict (6:32) Reports of start of conflict in Darfur
3. Lagowa Province (12:31) Moved westward to Lagowa Province bordering
Darfur
4. An Opportunity in Darfur (18:14) Transferred to African Union mission to
monitor ceasefire
5. Ethnic Based Attacks (22:14) Darfur: is it genocide? 1948 United Nations
Genocide Convention defines genocide as the intentional destruction of a
religious, racial, national, or ethnic group. The treaty requires any
government to take action in Sudan if indeed it decides to call the Darfur crisis
genocide.
6. Suppressed Reports (32:19)
7. Genocide (35:24)
8. Next in Line (39:36)
9. Exposing the Truth (43:41)
10. Chad (52:56)
11. Save Darfur (1:04:08)
12. Learning from Rwanda (1:09:46)
13. Accountability (1:16:12)
14. End Credits (1:22:24)