WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY IN SUDAN.

* Did you know that there are 27 million slaves in the world today?

* Did you know that the majority of slaves are in Africa and Sudan is the largest country in Africa? Arab militia men living in the north raid the black african villages in the south and enslave these villagers.

* Did you know that slaves become the property of their masters for life. They have no human rights and they are bought, sold, traded and branded?

* Did you know that the government of Sudan has always denied that slavery exists in that country?

* Did you know that villages are burned, children are separated from their mother for life, women are raped and men are beaten and kidnapped?


How many slaves exist in the region today?
It is impossible to get an accurate estimation of how many people are slaves in Sudan because the government of Sudan denies the existence of slavery in the country. 33 million people live in Sudan and it is the largest country in Africa. This country is deeply divided because the northern areas are mainly Arab and Muslim whereas the southern areas are mainly black Africans and Christian. It is estimated that more than 11,000 people have been kidnapped and traded as slaves. 60% of the kidnapped people are young men who are taken by the Arab militias and enslaved.

How are most people enslaved?
Many of the slaves are taken from the Dinka Tribe. Arab militiamen raid villages, killing many of the villagers and capturing others.

Under what conditions do many slaves live?
Since the most common form of slavery in Sudan is Chattel slavery, slaves become the property of his master for life, bought and sold, traded, and branded. Slaves are not allowed to marry, attend school or go to a Muslim Mosque. The slaves are forced to give up their cultural background, religious beliefs, and personal names. They are punished if they refuse to become Muslims. They are routinely punished with beatings, starvation, and torture. Sometimes ants are stuffed into their ears and then their ears are sealed with stones. The slave’s hands and feet are tied and they are forced to lie in the blazing sun for days.

What products/services are slaves used for in this region?
One rifle can be traded for six or seven child slaves. One woman from the Dinka tribe can be bought for 90 dollars. Slaves are used for house or farm labor, for sex, and for breeding. They are traded or sold for camels, trucks, guns, or money.

How are the governments helping to end this problem in Sudan?
The government of Sudan has always denied that slavery exists in Sudan. 12 years ago countries from around the world pressured Sudan to establish committees to investigate the issues of slavery. Slavery is against the law in Sudan and the government insists that captives by the Arab militia are not slaves. Civil war in Sudan and racial hatreds make the issue of slavery an impossible one to figure out and international pressure is needed to help free these slaves.

What types of slavery exist in this region?
Chattel slavery is the most common form of slavery in Sudan. This type of slavery is racially based. For instance the lighter skinned Arabs living in the North enslave the black Africans living in the South. Another form of slavery that is common in Sudan is Sex slavery because many women and children from the South are captured to become concubines or domestic servants. The black Africans of the south are seen as inferior not only because of their skin color but also because of their religion, which is Christian and not Muslim. There is also forced labor slavery because children are forced to work for the Arabs or become child soldiers to kill their own people.

What groups are most effected by slavery in this region?
The black Africans living in the southern part of Sudan are the people who are enslaved by the Arabs who lived in the northern part of Sudan.