Darfur Governor accuses RSF of blackmailing UN agencies

April 3, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minawi on Wednesday accused the Rapid Support Forces of blackmailing international organizations delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in western Sudan.

The accusation comes after the RSF posted on Tuesday a video showing a UNESCO convoy arriving in East Darfur State under their escort. RSF officials who welcomed the UNICEF convoy pledged to safeguard aid deliveries.

Minawi claims this is a ploy to pressure international organizations. “The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) caved to RSF blackmail by involving them in aid distribution,” he said in a statement to Sudan Tribune.

“This violates UN regulations.” He demanded transparency from the UN regarding the incident.

Last week, tensions flared when the Sudanese government reported that the RSF detained UNICEF aid trucks bound for El Fasher.

Last Saturday, the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Salwa Adam Benya, summoned the deputy head of UNICEF’s office in Sudan, Douglas Hagman, and requested clarifications about the Rapid Support Forces intercepting humanitarian aid trucks at the Mellit Gate before they entered El Fasher.

The Rapid Support Forces refuses the delivery of humanitarian aid to Darfur through areas controlled by government forces and groups allied with them. They call on the United Nations to deal directly with them through Chad.