Darfur’s SRAC criticizes statements by the RSF militia commander

June 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Differences have escalated in an unprecedented manner between the Darfurian Arab Mahameed clan chief, Musa Hilal, and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, aka Hametti.

A hand written statement showing the heading, logo and stamp of the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC) led by Hilal has widely circulated in the social media rejecting statements made by Hametti in which he criticized leniency of authorities towards outlaws.

The statement, which was issued Thursday, stressed that the responsibility of punishing criminals falls in the hands of the judiciary and the police not the RSF, saying that Hametti’s statements contain hidden messages and signals against specific tribes.

Last Monday, in an audio recording during the welcoming ceremony of the new governor of South Darfur state, Hemetti called for putting criminals to expeditious trials and sentence them to death.

He expressed displeasure with the police who usually release the outlaws under the pretext of lack of evidence or proof, saying police actions make efforts of the RSF useless.

The SRAC emphasized that it stands by applying the principle of accountability according to the Sudan penal code against anyone who perpetrates a crime or a violation in his personal not tribal capacity, denouncing Hemetti’s directives to execute people unlawfully.

The statement demanded the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to bring such actions which destabilize security in region to an end.

It said that Hemetti’s statements confirm accusations against the government that it provokes tribal conflicts, noting that tribes are social and civil institutions and part of the system of governance in the country.

The RSF militia, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilized by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan’s western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was activated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to fight rebel groups in Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks by Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

It should be recalled that both Hilal and Hemetti belong to the Arab Rezeigat tribe. While the latter belongs to the Mahri branch of the Rezeigat who mainly reside in South and East Darfur states, Hilal belongs to the Aballa (camel herders) Rezeigat of North Darfur.

Both men were recruited by Khartoum to help crush the rebellion which erupted in Darfur in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government.

However, both men showed that their ambition go beyond the roles assigned to them by the government and because they had acquired a major following and political standing, Khartoum was left with no option but to provide them with more rewards in terms of high political and military positions.

(ST)