Sudan has been decimated by over 20 years of civil war, during which the western area of Darfur has arguably become the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. The violence has led to over 2 million deaths, and 4 million people being displaced. Gross human rights violations are attributed to the conflict and the presence and exploitation of foreign oil companies. Oil exploration, extraction and transportation have led to violence at the hands of security personnel and the profits generated from oil have allowed various factions to purchase additional weapons, escalating the level of violence and length of the conflict.

Although the first barrel of crude oil was not exported until August of 1999, 16 years after the beginning of the conflict, oil is now the main objective of the war and possibly the greatest obstacle to lasting peace. As the world’s energy needs grow, countries such as the United States and China may continue to ignore, condone and perpetuate the violence in Darfur in an effort to secure enough oil to meet demand.