Sudanese government troops did not join Darfur force: Minnawi
October 3, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur governor said frustrated by the failure of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to join a joint force to protect civilians in the troubled region, as agreed in the Juba peace agreement.
In line with the peace deal in October 2020, the government and the armed group agreed to deploy 12,000 troops from both sides to protect civilians in Darfur.
Despite the continued violence in the region, the first batch of the joint security force, about 2000 troops, was formed in July 2022.
However, three months after the force’s formation, complaints emerged about the lack of funds and weapons to prepare it for emergency intervention.
Speaking to the troops of the joint force in Al-Fasher on Monday, Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi disclosed that the Sudanese government forces did not join the force.
“We have been waiting for the arrival of army and RSF forces to complete the force and become part of the joint force as stipulated in the agreement and carry out its tasks,” said Minnawi.
He added that the civilians in the region are waiting for the operationalization of the force to protect them, alluding to the continued lack of security and violence.
Minnawi further urged the UNITAMS Head Volker Perthes and the international community to support the joint force and the implementation of the peace agreement to bring stability and development in the region.
“Security will only be effective in Darfur once these forces come together in one place under one administration and meet the call of the homeland and the people,” he added.
The Juba peace agreement failed to bring stability to the region as tribal claims over landownership flared in the region, the same for revenge attacks.
Darfur governor is supposed to command the joint security force in the region. But his allied military leaders demand that all his forces return to Sudan, as some are reportedly still in Libya.
Also according to the security arrangements, the combatants of the former rebel groups should be gradually integrated into the army and other regular forces, but this step has not been implemented yet.
In April 2021, the government and the signatory groups agreed to increase the force to 20,000 in response to the growing tribal violence. However, the lack of means led them to freeze this agreement.
(ST)