The Continuing Crisis in Darfur

Born into the Fur tribe, Ahmed Ibrahim Diraige is a highly respected interlocutor between factionalized leaders in the Darfur region. He was elected governor of Darfur in 1981, only to be forced into exile in 1983 by the Sudanese government. He returned to Darfur to create the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1989. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SFDA) whose platform includes unrestricted humanitarian access to the region, protection of civilians, and the disarming of militias by the government.