Sudan's New Army Deputy Chief on Bush's Terror List

Sudan's New Army Deputy Chief on Bush's Terror List
Written by The Media Line Staff
Published Thursday, April 03, 2008
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A major reshuffle in Sudan's army command includes a general, who was added last year to the United States' sanctions list for his direct contribution to the conflict in Darfur.

Gen. 'Awwad Muhammad Ahmad Ebni (aka 'Awwad Muhammad Bin Oaf), the former head of Military Intelligence and Security, was promoted to the position of deputy chief of the Joint Staff.

According to the U.S. administration, Ebni acted as liaison between the Sudanese government and the government-supported Janjaweed armed forces, which have attacked civilians in the region. Ebni was also accused by the U.S. of providing the Janjaweed with logistical support, and of personally directing attacks.

Last January Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir appointed Mousa Hilal, a suspected Janjaweed leader as special adviser to the Ministry of Federal Government.

Hilal, leader of the Mahamid clan in Darfur, was questioned in 2005 by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and admitted to recruiting militias on behalf of Sudan's central government. The Darfurian leader was named in an Internmational Criminal Court report in February 2007 as making a "racist" speech in July 2003. However, he was not named as a war crime suspect.

The United Nations Security Council imposed travel and financial sanctions on Hilal in April 2006. United States President George W. Bush issued an executive order imposing similar sanctions on him. Read more >>>>>>>>