The Red Pencil

“Who Are the Janjaweed?” by Brendan I. Koerner (2004)

This article explains the background and history of the Janjaweed in Sudan. It also summarizes the motives behind their raids and their modus operandi, the latter of which is described in The Red Pencil.

• “Who Are the Janjaweed?” on Slate

“Explainer: tracing the history of Sudan’s Janjaweed militia” by Tsega Etefa (2019)

This article examines the history of the Janjaweed and their connection to the ongoing crisis in Sudan as of 2019. It mentions the Darfur conflict, which forms the context of The Red Pencil, and briefly examines what Janjaweed involvement could mean for the future of Sudan.

• “Explainer: tracing the history of Sudan’s Janjaweed militia” on The Conversation

“Arab Militia Kills Scores in Sweeping Attack in Sudan’s Darfur” by Declan Walsh (2022)

• “Arab Militia Kills Scores in Sweeping Attack in Sudan’s Darfur” on The New York Times



This article reports on a then-recent attack by the Janjaweed on a village in Darfur. The attack highlights the political crisis that gripped Sudan at the time. After the ousting of long-time dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019, there was a brief glimmer of hope that the violence would finally end.