Editing Musa Hilal (section)

==Biography==
Musa Hilal has been accused of inciting ethnic conflicts in some areas in Darfur.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/world/africa/12darfur.html Over Tea, Sheik Denies Stirring Darfur's Torment], ''The New York Times''</ref> In the 1990s, he was imprisoned on criminal charges, which included the murder of 17 people of African descent, and the robbery of the Central Bank of Nyala.<ref name = profile>[https://sudantribune.com/article25730/ PROFILE: Musa Hilal from a convicted felon to a government official], ''Sudan Tribune''</ref>

In 2003 Musa Hilal was sent to prison in Port Sudan by the governor of North Darfur, but was released in April 2003 supposedly on Vice President Ali Osman Taha’s orders and given the authority to recruit and command militia forces.

After his release Musa Hilal settled in Kebkabiya, where he supposedly organized a meeting to recruit Arab tribesmen from Awlad Rashid, Ireqat and Um Jalul. He is the leader of the Um Jalul tribe, which plays a major role in the attacks in Darfur. He has been named by victims, witnesses of the attacks, and member of the armed force, as second in command of the Janjaweed militias, “border intelligence brigade,” in Misteriya. He was reported to have met numerous times with militia leaders to coordinate other village attacks.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/legacy/features/darfur/fiveyearson/report4.html Failing Darfur], Human Rights Watch</ref><ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/08/30/dying-in-darfur Dying in Darfur], ''The New Yorker''</ref>

Musa Hilal has also been accused of kidnapping women and keeping them imprisoned in West Misteriya, at Jebel Jur Hilal. In 2006, the United Nations imposed travel and financial bans on Musa Hilal. Musa Hilal was quoted as saying, “the travel ban - that would be a humiliation. I am a tribal leader. My reputation comes above anything and everything.”<ref>[https://sudantribune.com/article54306/ UNSC Sanctioned Janjaweed Leader Musa Hilal Flaunts Travel Ban], ''Sudan Tribune''</ref>
On February 27, 2008, Mr. Reeves reported the destruction of 30 villages, the assassination of 200 people, the rape of over 200 girls and women, and the kidnapping of 150 women and 200 children. These actions, Reeves argued, were executed by Janjaweed militias under direct order of militia leader, Musa Hilal.

The international pressure that has been building up over the Sudanese government to address the attacks against civilians may force the government to give up Musa Hilal to international authorities. Musa Hilal is said to hold enough information to pose a threat to the Sudanese government if the latter were to turn against him. Thus, the Sudanese government has often dismissed international criticism regarding its decision to promote Musa Hilal to adviser to Federal Affairs Minister Abdel Basit Sabderat. Sudanese President Al Bashir was quoted as saying, “[Musa Hilal] contributed greatly to stability and security in the region.”

In  December 2011 it was reported that Hilal's daughter, Amani Musa, was going to marry the president of Chad, [[Idriss Déby]]. The two were married on 21 January 2012.

On March 11, 2021, Hilal was released from prison, and the Janjaweed militiamen accused of committing atrocities in Darfur received a pardon.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics/sudanese-militia-leader-musa-hilal-freed-after-pardon-idUSKBN2B32OC Sudanese militia leader Musa Hilal freed after pardon], ''Reuters''</ref> He remains under UN sanctions and is accused of serious crimes in Darfur.<ref>[https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1591/materials/summaries/individual/musa-hilal-abdalla-alnsiem MUSA HILAL ABDALLA ALNSIEM], United Nations Security Council</ref>