Human rights activists around the world are denouncing the Sudanese government's decision to hire Musa Hilal, top commander of the Janjaweed militias who have murdered thousands in Darfur, as an official adviser to the minister of federal affairs.
Human Rights Watch calls the appointment "a stunning affront to victims of Janjaweed atrocities in Darfur."

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

The government of President al-Bashir hopes that Hilal's allegiance will win them support from Arab tribal groups. But whatever al-Bashir may gain internally can't balance his losses in credibility and reputation. Hilal joins a number of Sudanese officials wanted by the International Criminal Court as war criminals. Hilal is so despised internationally that even before this round of events, the UN had forbidden him from traveling.
With the small UN force struggling to make a difference in Darfur, and talks between the Sudanese government and rebel groups, as well as between President Bashir and UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, fast approaching, Hilal's appointment will provoke greater tensions in an already escalating situation.
The Sudanese government's contempt for the international community is shocking. When are world leaders going to actually start solving this problem, instead of wringing their hands? Yes, I know there are no quick solutions, but talking about slaps in the face doesn't prevent people from dying. I'm no proponent of regime change, but maybe a little partitioning would go a long way to reducing violence. An autonomous Darfur, an autonomous southern Sudan, and then Bashir and Hilal can sit in Khartoum and be evil together - and without the natural resources of all the people they've killed and displaced. And how about pumping 90,000 UN troops, instead of 9,000, into Sudan? Are we against genocide or aren't we?
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