Darfur’s border patrol force in dispute with central government
April 4, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The commanders of the Border Patrol force (BPF) in Darfur have rejected a government call to mobilise as part of the “deterrence force” launched last month in response to the military escalation on Sudan’s borders with South Sudan.
A conference of Border Patrol Force commanders that was to be convened last month was delayed by the government in order to deliberate on demands put forward by the semi-governmental force.
It is not clear what the list of conditions put forward by BPF included.
A senior Sudanese official who asked to remain anonymous declined to offer details but pointed out that the recruitment call made by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir for the establishment of a “deterrence force” does not concern BPF but was addressed to the Popular Defense Force (PDF).
He said that South Darfur state will assemble its units that will join “deterrence force” officially on 12 April.
Sudan Tribune reached out to a BPF commander who said that the government backtracked on several promises made during similar mobilisation calls in the past.
The commander who asked to be identified as A.M.A said they asked Khartoum for specific advanced weaponry along with equipment and special medical equipment before they agree to joining the “deterrence force”.
He said that government officials reacted in an “unjustifiable negative” way which widened the gap between the two sides.
Many observers claim that BPF consists mainly of the notorious Janjaweed militia members that fought Darfur rebels along with Sudanese army. It was drawn mainly from the nomadic Arab tribes of the area and blamed for much of the killing in the Darfur conflict.
(ST)