The Devil Came On Horseback

This intense, vivid, powerful memoir from the heart of Darfur by a former American soldier who became a military observer for the African Union, is the first extensive on-the-ground account of the genocide in Sudan. Former US Marine Brian Steidle arrived in Southern Sudan in January 2004 looking for adventure and ready to provide military support for the ceasefire ending Africa's longest-lasting civil war. Hired as one of only three Americans on the ground in areas of Darfur inaccessible to journalists or even humanitarian aid workers, he spent six months there, witnessing first-hand the on-going genocide, and documenting every day of his experience using email, audio journals, notebook after notebook and nearly 1000 photographs. Gretchen Steidle Wallace, his sister who is helping Brian write the book, corresponded with him throughout his time in Darfur. When he realised his daily reports were falling on deaf ears, Brian resigned from his position, returned home and began speaking out publicly about what he saw, putting his life and career at risk. Despite threats from Sudanese officials, efforts from the US government to silence him and backlash from the humanitarian groups he wished to support, Brian has dedicated himself to carrying his story to the people and leaders of the Western world. The Devil Came on Horseback leads you through the tragic impact of an Arab government bent on destroying its black African citizens, the frustrating complexity of international inaction in response to blatant genocide and the awkward yet heroic transformation of a former Marine turned humanitarian. This compelling autobiographical account bears witness to unmentionable atrocities while offering its readers evidence that the actions of just one committed person has the power to transform the world.