Background

To understand this conflict it is important to look at the recent history of Darfur.

Darfur is a region of Sudan, the largest country in Africa. It is approximately the size of Texas.
Through the past twenty years or so a drought has caused the amount of water and farm land to decrease. This drought has led to conflicts between groups such as herders, who are primarily Arab Muslims, and farmers, who are primarily Black Muslims. Conflicts like these have been common since the 1950s when Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt. There have been many uprisings against the government. There was even a civil war which finally ended on January 9, 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
This quick information shows a trait of Darfur in recent years; violence. I have not come to the start of the current genocide, but now I understand a little more about Darfur's past.