Darfur JEM accuse government of plan to recruit 9000 for militia

The Justice and Equality Movement said the government plans to recruit a 9,000-man militia with the purpose of fighting the armed movements in Darfur. Suleiman Sandal, commanding general of the movement, said that JEM obtained information that there was meeting held three days ago, attended by the Governor of South Kordofan Ahmed Harun, and Minister Issa Bushara, and Governor of South Darfur Hamid Musa Kasha. Sandal said that the participants layed out plans for this recruitment process. He explained that the meeting resulted in a decision to delegate the implementation of this mission to a number of military personnel. Sandal was speaking to Radio Dabanga in an interview aired Friday.

Last week Radio Dabanga received information that the government now considers some of its militias – the Border Guards and Popular Defense Forces — to be major threats to the security of South Darfur State. The government’s relative lack of control of these forces may be one reason behind the formation of a new militia. However, JEM’s allegation could not be confirmed with Sudanese officials.