Darfur Janjaweed leader says he will “work for peace”
February 21, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — A Darfur Janjaweed leader who was recently promoted for a government post said his appointment “is a call of duty for serving the peace process in Sudan”.
“Resolving the Darfur crisis comes from within and not from the international community” he added.
The Sudanese government has recently appointed Hilal as an adviser sparking anger from the US and human right groups.
Sudan’s senior presidential assistant Minni Arcua Minnawi condemned the appointment and described it as “unfortunate”.
The former rebel leader and the head of a faction of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) said that he was not consulted on the nomination.
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.
The 43 years old was jailed by the Sudanese authorities in 1998 for leading armed robbery of the central bank in the city of Nyala in Darfur. However the First Vice president Ali Osman Taha secured his release in 2002 to help recruit Arab tribes against the new rebel uprising in Darfur.
The UN Security Council imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze on Hilal in April of 2006. The US president George Bush ordered similar sanctions on him.
Hilal dismissed international criticism to his appointment and said that allegations against him are from “liars”.
“I have never wore military uniform but am prepared to should the need arises” he said.
He further praised the Sudanese armed forces and said that it the ability to defeat any rebel groups “whether it be JEM [Justice & Equality Movement] or another rebel group”.
“The army has exercised restraint because they respect the accords signed with the African Union” he added.
The Sudanese army has recently launched an offensive against JEM fighters and managed to take back three major towns near West Darfur’s state capital El-Geneina on February 8 and following reports of bombing on Monday.
The clashes were reported between the two sides in the mountainous Jabel Moun area. JEM released a communiqué claiming to have inflicted heavy losses on “three moving battalions belonging to Sudanese Government armed forces along with their proxy Janjaweeds” in the area.
Hilal also confirmed reports that Mohamed Ali Hamiditi, another Janjaweed leader, has rejoined the government ranks after defecting to Sudan Liberation Army (SLM) faction led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur.
Earlier this month the Sudanese Media Center (SMC) which has close links to the Sudan’s security services, said that Hamiditi has agreed to “work hand in hand with government troops”.
Hamiditi was described by SMC as a “defector from the border patrol”.
The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, which then was accused of enlisting the Janjaweed militia group to help crush the rebellion.
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)