South Darfur governor accuses SLM/AW of involvement in IDP camp incident

September 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The governor of South Darfur state, Adam Mahmoud Jar al-Nabi, has accused an armed group belonging to the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/AW (SLM-AW) led by Abdel-Wahid Mohamed al-Nur of involvement in Kalama IDP camp incident which led to the killing of two women and injuring four children.

He stressed that government did not use force against camp residents given that Darfur’s joint peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) police is in charge of the IDP’s protection inside the camp.

The deputy secretary-general of refugees and IDPs’ union in Darfur, Adam Abdallah, on Friday told Sudan Tribune that a heavily armed military force stormed the camp in an “inhumane” manner and randomly opened fire leading to the death of two women including a lactating mother besides injuring four children.

According to Abdallah, the camp residents, following the incident went out in a demonstration and destroyed the headlamps of the building of Darfur’s joint peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) police.

He announced that the IDP’s will organize a major demonstration to protest against security raids which seek to push them to leave the camps.

Jar al-Nabi said in press statements following meeting with the head of UNAMID in South Darfur, Imtiaz Hussein, on Saturday in Nyala that the rebel group arrived from the town of Zalingi in central Darfur and sneaked into the camp, saying they pushed schoolchildren and women to hold banners and raise slogans against the government and in support of the SLM/AW.

He said that only one woman died in the incident at the hands of a demonstrator, noting that the killer was apprehended.

The governor further said the armed group which belongs to SLM/AW led the IDP’s protests and carried out subversive acts and lootings inside the camp, adding that they also looted shops at Baleel commercial market near the camp.

Jar al-Nabi said that he informed UNAMID that government did not use force against the demonstrators, stressing condemnation to such kind of action.

“Our troops did not enter the camp and we have not used any force because we consider UNAMID responsible [for securing the camp] and it should take the necessary actions”, he said

He called for arresting suspects involved in the incident who he claims are known by names, urging UNAMID to bear its responsibility in protecting IDP’s lives.

Hussein for his part called for the need to keep Kalma camp for IDP’s only, saying residents of the camp must respect their civilian and humanitarian situation and not turn the camp into a nest for political or criminal activities which threaten security and safety in the state.

He stressed wisdom of the government of South Darfur, saying it is trying to resolve the issue in coordination with UNAMID.

The head of UNAMID further disclosed ongoing talks with Kalma camp leaders and youths to urge them not to support rebellion and stay away from use of force and allow local authorities search for criminals inside the camp in coordination with the mission.

On July 15th, Jar al-Nabi declared a one-month emergency order in South Darfur state, including a curfew from 7pm to 7am in Nyala.

Last month, the state security committee decided to renew the order indefinitely and called on civilians to hand over any weapons they have in their possession.

The commissioner of Nyala locality, Abdel-Rahman Hussein Mohamed Gardoud, said the security situation achieved a stabilization rate of 90% as a result of applying the emergency order, pointing they would continue to implement these security measures until the situation has been stabilized.

Gardoud pointed that 300 suspects were tried for violating the security order, as well as confiscating large quantities of illegal drugs, weapons and ammunition.

Last month, UNAMID expressed concern about the security raids conducted by the government on IDP camps in Nyala and surrounding localities in South Darfur, saying it will make every possible effort to reduce the negative impact of these raids.

The head of UNAMID, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, said role of his mission is to “ensure that the activities on law enforcement agencies are carried out without infringement of the rights of innocent civilians, especially vulnerable communities in IDP camps”.

South Darfur state has witnessed a near total security breakdown in recent months with recurrent incidents of looting, banditry and murder including from pro-government militias.

(ST)