‘Janjaweed founder’ heading Arab observer mission in Syria

29/12/2011 21:43

The posting of General Mohammed Mustafa al-Dabi as the head of the Arab League has been contested in an article by Foreign Policy magazine, as ‘the world’s worst human rights observer’. Al-Dabi is heading the investigation of Syria’s commitment to the implementation of the Arab backed peace plan, visiting the area, liaising with the Syrian government and reporting back. However, in a book authored by Alex De Waal, the governor of West Darfur Ibrahim Yahia states that Al-Dabi was responsible for founding the Janjaweed, the government backed militia group that has been one of the main players in the conflict in Darfur, since 2003. Amnesty International said the appointment of Al-Dabi ‘undermines the credibility of the observer mission to Syria’, as rights violations continue in Sudan.

The posting of General Mohammed Mustafa al-Dabi as the head of the Arab League has been contested in an article by Foreign Policy magazine, as ‘the world’s worst human rights observer’.

Al-Dabi is heading the investigation of Syria’s commitment to the implementation of the Arab backed peace plan, visiting the area, liaising with the Syrian government and reporting back.

However, in a book authored by Alex De Waal, the governor of West Darfur Ibrahim Yahia states that Al-Dabi was responsible for founding the Janjaweed, the government backed militia group that has been one of the main players in the conflict in Darfur, since 2003.

Amnesty International said the appointment of Al-Dabi ‘undermines the credibility of the observer mission to Syria’, as rights violations continue in Sudan.