Darfur rebel groups express fury over militia chief’s appointment
January 22, 2008 (PARIS) — The two major rebel groups in Darfur denounced the decision by the Sudanese government to bring on a notorious militia leader as a special adviser.
Al-Nur said that the Sudanese government is now challenging the will of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
“This is just another example of Sudan sticking its tongue out to the UNSC. Hilal has been designated by the UN sanctions committee as an obstacle to peace in Darfur. It is time to put an end to this vicious cycle” he added.
Sudan president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir issued a decree last week appointing Musa Hilal, one of four men subjected to travel restrictions and asset freezes in a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution on Darfur, as an adviser to Federal Affairs Minister Abdel-Basit Sabderat.
JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone from London said that the move is a “disregard to the UN charter and a serious threat to the moral character of the world body”.
“Sudan is endorsing someone who has been one of tools of genocide in Darfur. Should a government like this be a member of the UN?” he added.
Both Al-Nur and Adam said that the appointment is an insult to the people of Darfur.
“He [Hilal] has blood on his hands from massacring the people of Darfur. He didn’t make it a secret. Unfortunately victims in Darfur mean nothing to Khartoum since they view them as second class citizens” the SLM leader stressed.
The US State Department and human rights groups say Hilal is a leader of the Janjaweed, which is accused of committing war crimes in Darfur.
Hilal has been named by numerous eyewitnesses in Darfur as leading terror campaign against the African tribes in the war ravaged region.
The tribal leader denied any wrongdoings and told Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a videotaped interview in 2005, that he only recruited militias on behalf of Sudan’s central government.
“All this time Hilal has not shown any signs of remorse or regret to the misery he inflicted upon the people of Darfur” the JEM official said.
Hilal told Reuters he would be based in Khartoum, but said the post could require travel to outlying regions. The ministry coordinates regional administrations with central government.
The JEM official said that they will not meet with Hilal nor do they want anything to do with him. However Al-Nur went a step further and issued a stern warning to the militia leader.
“Any attempt by Hilal to enter into areas controlled by our army makes him a legitimate target. He will be arrested immediately” Al-Nur emphasized.
Some analysts have suggested that the appointment of the Mahameed clan leader was meant to pacify the Arab tribes and reverse a growing trend of defection.
“The Sudanese officials are prepared to undertake any expedient act in order to halt the defection of Arab militia forces in Darfur, and prepared also to make the most vicious appeals to Arab sentiment in the region” Eric Reeves a leading Sudan expert said.
A rebel commander speaking to Sudan Tribune by satellite phone from Darfur on condition of anonymity said that Khartoum was worried about the possibility of Hilal leaving the government ranks.
“His tribe is no longer supporting him in his alliance with the government. There has been lots of talk about Hilal defecting. The Sudanese government wants to keep him under their eyes in Khartoum” he said.
The JEM spokesperson said that many Arab tribes have contacted them condemning the nomination of Hilal.
“Hilal is not a representative of the Arabs in Darfur. They are distancing themselves from him” he added.
Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur urged the international community to correct the illogical situation created by Khartoum.
“The UNSC must see that the Sudanese government adheres to its handful of resolutions. They are still obstructing the deployment of peacekeepers authorized by resolution 1769. This should precede any steps made to pressure me to attend peace talks.” Al-Nur said.
“I will not attend peace talks before the peacekeeping force is deployed and security for my people is achieved. The world cannot victimize the victims just because they want to feel safe in their homes. It’s a basic right” he added.
International experts estimate 200,000 people have died in the conflict, which Washington calls genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use. The Sudan government says 9,000 people have been killed.
(ST)