Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — A Sudanese commander deemed a war criminal has been
spotted in the Darfour region.

The U.S. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Mohammed Ali Abdul Rahman, commander of
the regime-backed Janjaweed militia, was seen in an attack on a tribe in
central Darfour in April.

HRW said Abdul Rahman, also known as Ali Kosheib, was seen driving in a Sudanese government jeep along with regime forces.

“Witnesses placed Kosheib at the scene of an attack on the town of Abu
Jeradil, 30 kilometers south of Um Dukhun, on April 8, riding in a
government vehicle,” HRW said.

Janjaweed was identified as the leading regime force in the killing of
more than 200,000 people in Darfour. In 2007, the International Criminal
Court, which issued an indictment for Abdul Rahman, said Janjaweed was used for burning and looting tribal villages in Sudan’s western province.

ICC has also issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar
Bashir and his senior aides. So far, no attempt has been made to arrest
Bashir during his trips abroad, including neighboring Egypt.

In a report on June 3, HRW said Abdul Rahman arrived with a force that
consisted of anti-tank, artillery and anti-aircraft batteries. The New
York-based group said several of the villagers in Abu Jeradil recognized
Abdul Rahman.

“Witnesses place Ali Kosheib at the scene of recent killing, burning,
and looting in Darfour,” Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights
Watch, said. “This shows that allowing fugitives to remain at liberty can
have a devastating price.”

  Ali Kosheib, Janjaweed militia, Mohammed Ali Abdul Rahman, Omar Bashir, Sudanese Janjaweed commander wanted for war crimes spotted in Darfour