Sudan’s Blue Nile governor urges disarmament of militia

July 15, 2007 (DAMAZIN) –Governor of Blue Nile State Malik Agar has requested the Sudanese presidency to determine the fate of the militia that is not included in the military arrangement protocol. He further described the heavy military presence in the state as dangerous.

Agar said that according to the agreement, there should be 6,000 soldiers in the state – 3,000 of them from Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and other 3,000 from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) However, he pointed out that there was heavy military presence which he has described as dangerous.

The newly appointed governor said he would be forced to disarm the Popular Defense Forces if the SAF did disarm this militia or integrate it in its units. He added that insecurity is the principal obstacle for development in the region.

He stressed that the task of the security apparatus was just gathering and analyzing information and giving advice, as it is stipulated in the CPA and the constitution.

Agar also called for the review of the current Comprehensive Peace Agreement implementation mechanisms besides the review of educational policies and teachers’ qualifications.

Malik Agar left his more prestigious post as Sudan’s investment minister to take up the governorship, which rotates between the dominant National Congress Party (NCP) and Agar’s former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

(ST)