Press Release – For Immediate Publication
London – Sunday, 9 August 2026
Darfur Associations Union in the United Kingdom Rejects Divisive Rhetoric Targeting Sudanese Communities
The Darfur Associations Union in the United Kingdom expresses its deep concern and strong rejection of recent statements made by Musa Hilal, in which he described certain Sudanese communities as “newly arrived African groups.” The Union views such rhetoric as harmful, inflammatory, and detrimental to social cohesion in Sudan.
The Union affirms that the Masalit, Barqo, Tama, and Barno communities are not recent arrivals but have long-standing historical, cultural, and political roots in Sudan. Their presence predates modern colonial borders and is linked to ancient kingdoms and sultanates that shaped the region’s history.
The Union stresses that Sudan’s current crisis is political, security-related, and humanitarian, not a conflict between tribes, ethnicities, or regions. Reviving narratives that question the Sudanese identity of entire communities risks deepening divisions and reigniting tensions reminiscent of the tragic events in Darfur since 2003—events in which inflammatory rhetoric played a major role.
The Union calls on all political, community, and traditional leaders to act responsibly, avoid generalizations and collective accusations, and refrain from turning political disputes into ethnic or tribal conflicts. Sudan today needs a unifying discourse grounded in equal citizenship, justice, and the rule of law.
Darfur Associations Union – Media Office