Rizeigat paramount leader rejects recruitment among his tribesmen in Darfur

March 16, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Mahmoud Madebo, Paramount Chief of the Rizeigat tribe in western Sudan on Thursday voiced their rejection of “large-scale recruitment campaigns among his tribesmen in the Darfur region.

Madebo’s statements echo posts on social media about the recruitment of members of the Mahmeed clans of Musa Hilal by the Sudanese army.

“We declare our total rejection of the campaigns of recruitment of tribal youth by intelligence agencies working to mobilize the tribes for more war and prolong the tribal conflict that has claimed a number of innocent lives,” said the tribal leader in a statement released on Thursday.

He further called on the Native Administration leaders in Darfur not to deal with any party recruiting youth before “referring to us and ascertaining the objectives of recruitment”.

In October 2022, Madebo warned against any targeting of the deputy chairman of the Sovereign Council and threatened to attack Khartoum to protect him.

The tribal leader called on the head of the Sovereign Council and the commander in chief of the Sudanese army to stop these recruitments which take place without referring to him and without public announcements.

“Therefore, we hold those who carry out this (recruitment) responsible for the outbreak of any conflict or sedition resulting from this activity,” he stressed.

It is worth mentioning that Musa Hilal is the head of the Mahameed clan of the Rizeigat tribe.

(ST)