Sudan: Minister says armed militias “pose danger” to security

Sudan: Minister says armed militias “pose danger” to security
BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom
Published: Apr 14, 2007

Text of report by Sudanese independent newspaper Al-Ayyam on 14 April

The state minister for internal affairs Aliu Ajang has warned of the proliferation of weapons among groups of Mujahidin [fighters] and Popular Defence Forces, and has reaffirmed that these groups did not hand over their weapons at the end of the war.

The minister further reaffirmed that a number of militias, that had not joined the armed forces or the Sudan People’s Liberation Army had been disarmed and threatened to disarm the remaining militias by force if they refused to disarm voluntarily.

In an interview with Al-Ayyam, Ajang revealed that the first Vice-President [Silva Kiir] had agreed for a number of officers from the south and Nuba Mountains to join the police force, and pointed out that steps to form police forces in the south, south Kurdufan and Blue Nile states were making good progress.

The minister played down the security breaches which occurred in Khartoum and said they were a natural outcome of the peace agreements.

“It is unreasonable to sign agreements with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement or the Sudan Liberation Movement and not expect to see their soldiers in Khartoum,” he said.

He further stressed that “with training and also by accommodating each other such clashes will stop.”

The minister said the reason behind the recent explosions in Khartoum was the presence of grenades in the hands of Mujahidin and paramilitary forces that had not handed over their weapons.

He further warned of the presence of militias among civilians and said their presence posed a danger particularly as they had been used by the [ruling] National Congress party in the war and had now become obsolete and any negotiations with them led to clashes.

He added that these militias posed a big problem to the ministry of interior because they [militias] had not determined which of the two sides to merge with.

Ajang urged citizens to cooperate with the police and to notify them immediately of citizens with unlicensed weapons in order to maintain security and asked “why are people carrying weapons when the country is at peace?”

Source: Al-Ayyam, Khartoum, in Arabic 14 Apr 07

BBC Monitoring