Sudan atrocities suspect given senior government post

Sudan has appointed Musa Hilal, suspected of leading a militia group accused of murder, rape and other atrocities, to a senior central government position, a move condemned by Human Rights Watch on Sunday.

According to a statement released by Human Rights Watch, “Hilal and his men played an integral role in the two-year campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Sudanese army and Janjaweed militia. Scores of victims, witnesses to attacks, and even members of the Sudanese armed forces have named Hilal as the top commander of government-backed Janjaweed militias responsible for numerous atrocities in Darfur in 2003 and 2004. Hilal was named by the US State Department as early as July 2004 as one of six militia leaders alleged to be responsible for serious crimes in Darfur.”

Human Rights Watch urged U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to press Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to revoke the appointment and to investigate Hilal for crimes in Darfur.

“Musa Hilal is the poster child for Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur,” said Richard Dicker, director of the organization’s International Justice Program. “Rewarding him with a special government post is a slap in the face to Darfur victims and to the UN Security Council.”

For the full statement, click here.