By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa
KHARTOUM, Sudan – Musa Hilal, the leader of the Arab militia known as Janjaweed, has been appointed as special advisor to Sudan’s Ministry of Federal Affairs. The international community has spoken out in outrage over this appointment, as the Janjaweed are seen as one of the architects of the genocide in Darfur. The militia is accused of some of the gravest human rights violations in the Darfur region.
Hilal and the Janjaweed are accused of razing African villages, the murder of citizens, the raping of women and girls, and the displacement of 2.5 million people. In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed travel and financial restrictions on Hilal and three other militia leaders.
The Sudanese government has been accused of supporting the Janjaweed, however they have repeatedly denied any involvement and insist that the Janjaweed act on their own. These denials are in contradition to what Hilal told Human Rights Watch in 2004. In an interview with the organization, Hilal stated that he had always acted under orders from the government.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir defended the appointment of Hilal, maintaining that he had “contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.” “In Sudan we don’t think the claims against Hilal are true” he said. “The people who really commit murders in Darfur are receiving help from Europe and others.”
On Sunday Human Rights Watch labeled Hilal as the “poster child for Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur” calling the assignment a “slap in the face to Darfur victims and the UN Security Council.”
Hilal is the third alleged war criminal to be given an appointment in the government. Two individuals indicted by the International Criminal Court have also received appointments, with one of them being put in charge of humanitarian aid to Darfur.
The five-year conflict in Sudan has killed an estimated 200,000 and has displaced 2.5 million.
For more information, please see:
International Herald Tribune – Once again, Sudan shows its scorn for the world – 23 January 2008
Washington Post – Sudan Names Janjaweed Figure as Top Advisor – 23 January 2008
VOA News – US Gov’t ‘Deplores’ Sudan’s Appointment of Darfur Militia Leader – 22 January 2008
Reuters – U.S. criticizes Sudan over Darfur militia chief – 22 January 2008
Human Rights Watch – Sudan: Notorious Janjaweed Leader Promoted – 20 January 2008
