Ahmed Harun, a former Minister of State for the Interior under ex-President Omar al Bashir regime, reportedly escaped from jail when conflict broke out last year.
During this time, the Department of State said, Harun stands accused of recruiting, mobilizing, funding, and arming the notorious Janjaweed militia, a precursor to the Rapid Support Forces, and participating in atrocities, including murder, rape, torture, forcible transfer of population, persecution, and other inhumane acts.
The reward by the United States is offered for information that leads to Harun’s arrest, transfer or conviction.
“Those with information about Harun’s whereabouts should contact the War Crimes Rewards Program by WhatsApp or text message at 202-975-5468 or by email at wcrp@state.gov. The identity of anyone providing information will be kept strictly confidential absent that person’s express permission,” the department said.
“It is critical that Harun be found and that he appear before the ICC to face the charges against him,” the State Department noted.
“Lasting peace in Sudan requires justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations, both past and present,” State Departments spokesman Matthew Miller said on Monday.
“There is a clear and direct connection between impunity for abuses under the Bashir regime, including those of which Harun is accused, and the violence in Darfur today,” he added.
The conflict in Darfur began around 2003 when several rebel groups in Darfur, a western region of Sudan, took up arms against the government in Khartoum. They had grievances over land and historical marginalization.
The UN estimated that 2.5 million people were displaced and 300,000 people may have died in the Darfur conflict, although experts say that figure has likely risen since then.
