The Janjaweed ( Arabic : جنجويد janjawīd ; also transliterated Janjawid [2] ) are a militia that operate in western Sudan and eastern Chad . [3] Using the United Nations definition, the Janjaweed comprised Sudanese Arab tribes, the core of whom are from the Abbala ( camel herder ) background with significant recruitment from the Baggara (cattle herder) people. This UN definition may not necessarily be accurate, as instances of members from other tribes have been noted. [ citation needed ] Janjaweed جنجويدLeader(s) Musa Hilal Dates of operation1987 - present [1] Active region(s) North Africa Ideology Arab Ethnic nationalism (Arabocentric) [1] StatusActiveSizeUnknown about 8 average (less than 25,000 est.) In the past, they were at odds with Darfur's sedentary population over natural grazing grounds and farmland, as rainfall dwindled and water became scarce. They are currently in conflict with Darfur rebel groups—the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Just