Sudan—Sudanese People’s Armed Forces (Sudanese Armed Forces)/Janjaweed Militia

PSL MIL TCL

Justification for SCS: Engaged in a protracted battle, particularly in the Darfur region, with two primary rebel groups (the Justice and Equality Movement, and the Sudan Liberation Army) that are supported by the Chadian government. In short, the conflict between Chad and Sudan through the use of Sudanese rebel groups and Janjaweed militia has become little more than a proxy war in the Darfur region.The Darfur region is of particular concern as it represents what is generally referred to as genocide.

Stakeholder size (number of people): The Sudanese Armed Forces numbers approximately 100,000 persons. The exact number of Janjaweed militia is unknown given that they are predominantly comprised of nomadic tribes with unknown and constantly fluctuating numbers; however, the estimated total strength of Janjaweed militias is 20,000 persons.

Area of Influence:
a. Geographic area: These forces operate in the Darfur region of western Sudan, and across the western border of Sudan into eastern Chad.
b. Population subsets: The Janjaweed are comprised of tribal Arab militias and they specifically target the African population in the Darfur region.

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders? In Darfur, the Sudanese Armed Forces act predominantly as a support element for attacks conducted by the Janjaweed militia. As the commander in chief of the military, Lt. Gen. Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir is the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The Janjaweed militias are a loose confederation of Arab tribal militias of both Sudanese and Chadian origins. Given the nature of Janjaweed militias, it is difficult to identify leaders, as they exist on tribal levels. However, Musa Hilal is frequently cited as a top Janjaweed militia leader, and was recently given an advisory position in the Government of National Unity.
b. How does one gain influence in the group? As the Janjaweed exist as a loose confederation of tribal militias, each has their own tribal process for determining leaders.
c. What issues do they care about? The Janjaweed took up arms largely in response to non-Arab rebel groups that began to challenge the Arab government in Khartoum. Khartoum later offered payment (derived from the looting of villages) to those willing to join Janjaweed cohorts, giving them an additional incentive to be cruel to human populations. The Sudanese Armed Forces are interested solely in quelling the rebellion based in the Darfur region.
d. What does the organizational structure look like? While the Sudanese Armed Forces employ a highly centralized traditional military structure, the Janjaweed are a loose tribal confederation and highly decentralized. While the Janjaweed may act on recommendations by the Sudanese Armed Forces, they may also act independently, attacking villages in the Darfur region on the whim of the leader of their particular Janjaweed cohort. The exact decision-making apparatus within a particular Janjaweed cohort is difficult to ascertain.
i. Rule by consensus
ii. Oligarchy
iii. Dictatorship
iv. Theocracy
v. Etc.

Financial Resources (if applicable):
a. List activities that generate cash flow: Janjaweed militias generate income through looting of villages in the Darfur region and in Eastern Chad.
b. Income from activities: Exact income is unknown.
c. Profitability: Profitability unknown. Though given that there is little cost incurred by the Janjaweed, a high degree of profitability is likely.

Military Resources (if applicable):
a. What arms do they possess:
i. What type? The Janjaweed militias are armed primarily will small arms and machetes. The Sudanese Armed Forces are able to supplement the strength of the Janjaweed with Hind helicopters, MiG? 23 and MiG? 29 fighter aircraft, Antonov medium range aircraft, mobile artillery, and light assault weapons, in addition to small arms.
ii. How much? Exact numbers of available weaponry are unknown.
b. Experience level: The Janjaweed and Sudanese Armed Forces rely on brute strength, often bombing areas with planes prior to Janjaweed arrival. These attacks are targeted primarily at civilian areas, where there is little risk of significant armed resistance. While the Janjaweed are not particularly well trained, they are effective at accomplishing mass destruction.

Provide a short history of the stakeholder group
a. What is their origin? Janjaweed militias have existed in Sudan since the late 1980s. While initially concerned only with land control, the rising insurgency in Darfur caused the Sudanese Armed Forces to offer to finance the Janjaweed, allowing them to keep the spoils of their attacks on civilian and rebel populations in the Darfur region.
b. How have they changed?
i. Interests: Their interests have evolved from land ownership, to population displacement and looting, as these have proven to be economically beneficial actions.
ii. Level of influence: The influence of the Janjaweed, through violence, in Darfur is very high. They are easily able to displace populations and destroy property.
iii. Resources: Janjaweed militias have accumulated the stores of valuables that have been looted from the villages and towns that have been destroyed in the Darfur region.
iv. etc
c. What are their future goals? As the conflict in Darfur has been economically beneficial for the Janjaweed, the continued ability to loot from these villages and increase their wealth is a highly attractive option for the Janjaweed.