In Sudan, the Janjaweed Rides Again
Facing mounting political and economic pressure, and failing health, Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, has reconstituted the janjaweed militias as his personal army. Reincarnated as the Rapid Support Forces, or R.S.F., the janjaweed fighters are being used by Mr. Bashir to consolidate his grip on power and counter the waning loyalty of the conventional army, the Sudanese Armed Forces.
It was 10 years ago this month that the United Nations Security Council demanded that Mr. Bashir disarm the militia force — notorious for the atrocities it committed during the government’s counterinsurgency campaign in the western region of Darfur — and bring its leaders to justice.… Seguir leyendo »