Darfur, the western region of ___, was the site of many atrocities in the early-2000s.

Sudan.

Explanation:

Darfur is a region in the African country of Sudan. It is located in the western part of this country and it is arid and semi-arid area i general. Despite not being the best place for living, the people still managed to adapt to the conditions and form lot of settlements.

Unfortunately, Darfur is not an region that is associated with something good or interesting but it is associated with genocide and human rights violations. Sudan had a dictator as its leader, a very brutal one. Because the country had Muslims and Christians and tensions between them he used the situation to achieve his twisted goals.

He ordered an attack in order to wipe out the Christian population, resulting in civil war and genocide and breaking of pretty much every human right. The international community intervened, though it was late, and once the things were put under control the country was split into two countries, and the southern part of Darfur is now in South Sudan.