Janjawid (to pronounce Djandjaouïd , in Arab  : rear RTL جنجويد is a generic term to designate the militiamans of the Darfur, with the Sudan. According to the definition of the the United Nations, Janjawids are Arab criminals asserting like , although being often of origin Baggara. Since 2003, they are among the main actors of the conflict strapping in the Darfur, who opposes the Arab population of Sudan to the Moslems not-Arabic of the area.

The name of Janjawid has the direction of hordes in Arabic; without certainty, one establishes an etymology with Djinn (spirit) or jawad (horse). According to BBC, Janjawids are the successors of the first Arab tribal militia, the Miurahilin , which existed for a very long time. Janjawids, originally consisted of Abbala , with the camel drivers, are also reinforced shepherds Baggara since 2004.

History

Janjawids are militia raised in the Arab tribes of the Chad and Darfur, known for the massacres, the rapes and the deportations which they make since 2003 in Darfur.

The first appearance of Janjawids goes back to 1988, after the victory of the Chadian president Hissène Habré, supported by the France and the the United States, over the Libyan Armée, which puts an end to the territorial aimings of colonel Kadhafi on Chad. The Chadian ally of Libya, Acheickh Ibn Omer Saeed, is withdrawn with its Arab militia in Darfur, where it is accommodated by Musa Hilal, the new chief of the Arabs of Darfur north. Hilal had already provided out of weapons the militiamans of Saeed. A free-Chadian incursion in Sudanese territory destroys the camp of Ibn Omer, but these militia remain armed thanks to the support with the Sudanese hosts, in the line of the ideology of Libyan Arab supremacy.

In the years 1990, Janjawids, amalgamates Arab militia of Chad and of Darfur, are tolerated by the Sudanese government, which integrates them into its regional policy of territorial control. The majority of the Arabs of Darfur, Baggaras, did not imply itself in the conflict. In 1999-2000, confronted with the threats of rebellion in Darfur Western and septentrional, Khartoum decides to arm the Janjawids militia. When the insurrection becomes extensive in February 2003, led by the Armée with release of Sudan and the Mouvement for justice and the equality, the Sudanese government retorts by making of Janjawids its main force of repression. Encouraged to tackle and reconquer the zones held by the rebels in Darfur, the Janjawids militia used the tactics of the burned ground, accompanied by atrocities generalized against the civilians. The State Department (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the the United States), suspects since 2004 the Janjawids chiefs of genocide. The safety advice of the United Nations also called with a disarmament of the Janjawids militia.

At the beginning of 2006, of many Janjawids were integrated into the Sudanese Armée, with Defense populaire or with the frontier guards. In same time, Janjawids integrated Arabs of Darfur Eastern, historically foreigners with these militia. The Arabs of Chad are them increasingly active to obtain a political support for Chad, within the Forces linked for a democratic change.

Foamed Hilal, with the head of small but powerful Arab tribe of Darfur, is suspecté to be itself a Janjawid chief by the State Department.

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