Abdelaziz al-Hilu
{{Short description|Sudanese insurgent and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Abdelaziz al-Hilu
| native_name = عبد العزيز الحلو
| native_name_lang = ar
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|7|7}}
| birth_place = Al-Faydh Umm Abdullah, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
| nationality = Sudanese
| battles = * Second Sudanese Civil War
| allegiance = {{flagicon image|Flag of SPLM-N.svg}} SPLM–N (al-Hilu)
}}
Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu ({{langx|ar|عبد العزيز الحلو}}; born 7 July 1954) is a Sudanese politician and the current leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (al-Hilu).
Biography
Al-Hilu was born in Al-Faydh Umm Abdullah, South Kordofan. He is considered one of the most successful SPLA/M commanders in the history of the SPLA and worked with Sudanese revolutionary leader John Garang in an aim to create a Sudan that is democratic, fair and free to all Sudanese.
He was born, raised and educated in the Nuba Mountains. He studied Economics in the University of Khartoum, and graduated in 1979. He lost the election for governor of South Kordofan to Ahmed Haroun in a poll rejected by the SPLA as rigged.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13408877
|title=Sudan:SPLA rejects South Kordofan win for Ahmed Haroun|publisher=bbcnews.com|date=2011-05-16|accessdate=2011-07-10| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624050122/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13408877| archivedate= 24 June 2011 | url-status= live}} He had been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces in the Second Sudanese Civil War and the South Kordofan conflict.
Following the Sudanese Revolution, he declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire "to give the ongoing peace talks an opportunity for success",{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/splm-n-al-hilu-extends-unilateral-ceasefire-additional-three-months |title=SPLM-N al-Hilu extends unilateral ceasefire for additional three months |website=reliefweb.int |date=31 March 2020 }} which was later further extended,{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/splm-n-al-hilu-extends-unilateral-ceasefire-seven-months |title=SPLM-N al-Hilu extends unilateral ceasefire for seven months |website=reliefweb.int |date=1 July 2020 }} during which he reached an agreement with the transitional government to separate religion and state and not discriminate against anyone's ethnicity on 3 September 2020.{{Cite news |url=https://www.voaafrica.com/a/africa_south-sudan-focus_sudans-government-agrees-separate-religion-and-state/6195464.html |title=Sudan's Government Agrees to Separate Religion and State |author=Michael Atit |work=Voice of America |date=4 September 2020 |access-date=8 September 2020}} He has also called to remove former President Omar al-Bashir's militias and to reorganize the Sudanese military, in addition to self-determination in areas controlled by his faction.{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/3/sudans-government-rebels-set-to-sign-landmak-deal |title=Sudan's government, rebel groups sign landmark deal |website=Al Jazeera |date=3 October 2020 }}
On 28 March 2021, al-Hilu signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in Juba, South Sudan, in which it would pave the path to establish a civil, democratic federal state in Sudan, in addition to guaranteeing freedom of religion and having a single army to protect national security.{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/world-food-programme-chief-congratulates-sudanese-government-and-rebel-group-steps |title=World Food Programme Chief congratulates Sudanese government and rebel group on steps towards peace |website=reliefweb.int |date=28 March 2021 }}
During the civil war in Sudan which began in 2023, al-Hilu was hesitant to join the Tagadum coalition, insisting on secular governance as a foundation for Sudan's unity and stability. He also supported initiatives to end conflict but emphasized addressing Sudan's deep-rooted issues.{{cite web |url=https://sudantribune.com/article286785/ |title=Al-Hilu: it is not time to engage in the Tagadum coalition |publisher=Sudan Tribune |date=9 June 2024 }} His forces in South Kordofan and Blue Nile prioritized defending citizens and ensuring aid reached civilians.{{cite news|url=https://jamestown.org/program/the-third-front-sudans-armed-rebel-movements-join-the-war-between-the-generals/|last=McGregor|first=Andrew|date=8 August 2023|title=The Third Front: Sudan's Armed Rebel Movements Join the War Between the Generals|access-date=24 September 2023|archive-date=6 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006203115/https://jamestown.org/program/the-third-front-sudans-armed-rebel-movements-join-the-war-between-the-generals/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://acleddata.com/2023/07/21/sudan-situation-update-july-2023-the-saf-faces-setbacks-as-armed-groups-overtake-territory-across-the-country/|last=Ali|first=Mahmoud|date=21 July 2023|title=Situation Update July 2023 Sudan: The SAF Faces Setbacks as Armed Groups Overtake Territory Across the Country 21 July 2023|access-date=25 September 2023|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002125705/https://acleddata.com/2023/07/21/sudan-situation-update-july-2023-the-saf-faces-setbacks-as-armed-groups-overtake-territory-across-the-country/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://acleddata.com/2023/08/11/sudan-situation-update-august-2023-heightened-violence-in-kordofan-region-as-more-militia-groups-step-into-the-conflict/|last=Ali|first=Mahmoud|date=11 August 2023|title=Sudan: Heightened Violence in Kordofan Region as More Militia Groups Step Into the Conflict|access-date=26 September 2023|archive-date=6 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006202642/https://acleddata.com/2023/08/11/sudan-situation-update-august-2023-heightened-violence-in-kordofan-region-as-more-militia-groups-step-into-the-conflict/|url-status=live}} In February 2025, al-Hilu supported the Rapid Support Forces's attempt to form a parallel government in Nairobi, Kenya.https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudans-rsf-allied-groups-sign-charter-form-parallel-government-two-signatories-2025-02-22/