United States finds out Janjaweed-Khartoum link

WASHINGTON, July 08, 2004 (MENL) — The United States has determined that Sudan provided major military support to the Janjaweed militia, accused of expelling 1.2 million black Africans from their homes in the western Darfour province.

Two U.S. delegations sent to Sudan in late June examined the link between Janjaweed and the Khartoum regime. They were said to have concluded that the Sudanese military provided training and equipment to Janjaweed as part of Khartoum’s policy to remove black Christians and other non-Muslims from Darfour, which neighbors Chad.

A congressional delegation that returned from Sudan this week said the Janjaweed was directly supported by the military. Delegates said Janjaweed fighters participated in Sudanese Air Force attacks on black African villages in Darfour as well as led ground attacks that resulted in the death of at least 30,000 people and the displacement of 1.2 million people.

Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia, recounted testimony he heard regarding the coordination between the Sudanese air force attacks and Janjaweed raids of black villages. Wolf told a July 6 news conference that a Janjaweed base in Darfour was adjacent to the Sudanese air base at Geneina in Darfour that contained two Soviet-origin attack helicopters and an Antonov air transport.