janjaweed leader, musa hilal, appointed as advisor to sudan's ministry of federal affairs

February 01, 2008

     The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy condemns the appointment of Musa Hilal, a known leader of the Janjaweed, as the advisor of Sudan’s Ministry of Federal Affairs. This act is in direct defiance against the AU-UN peacekeeping operation that has planned to commit 26,000 peacekeepers to the Darfur region. However, the government of Sudan is impeding this operation and less than half of the peacekeepers have been deployed. Hilal, a member of a dominant and influential Arab tribe, has been charged with crimes of murder, rape, and the demolition of multiple villages. As a result, the UN Security Council restricted his travel in 2006.
     The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy feels there are several reasons to explain the Sudanese government’s alignment with powerful tribe members, such as Hilal. For example, recently several Arab tribes have portrayed opposition to Sudan’s government and at this time, the government needs to ensure loyalty from as many influential Arabs as possible. Additionally, the government is fearful that if loyalty is not achieved, powerful men like Hilal will give information to the peacekeepers that may be used against the government of Sudan. By appointing Hilal to such a prominent position, the Sudanese government ensures Hilal’s cooperation and commitment to government policies. However, The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is outraged by this appointment and urges the international community to take action.