Darfur JEM call on UNAMID chief to resign over latest violence incidents

September 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) today called on the head of the African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Ibrahim Gambari to resign saying he failed to discharge his mandate in protecting civilians.

JEM was referring to an attack that took place last week at a market in a village in the northern part of Jebel Marra reportedly by pro-government militias killing more than seventy people including eighteen schoolchildren.

Another assault also blamed on pro-government militias was made against Al-Hamidiya camp, near Zalingi in West Darfur state killing six IDPs.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) denied launching any military offensive in the region and blamed the Al-Hamidiya camp clashes on supporters of the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur saying they attacked supporters of the peace process in Doha.

A statement signed by JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam accused UNAMID of being complicit in the attack and waiting more than 24 hours later ” for the executioners and criminals to commit their crimes against the inhabitants of the camp, then coming afterwards to write reports only”.

“The [JEM] movement demands that the Special Representative of the joint mission (UNAMID) Mr. Ibrahim Gambari immediately resign for failing to perform his duties in accordance with its mandate for the mission,”.

The rebel group also urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the fallout of the humanitarian and security situation and evaluate the performance of UNAMID.

In a related issue, the government of West Darfur decried “non-cooperation” of UNAMID saying they are turning a blind eye to lawlessness inside the IDP camps and named the incident of Al-Hamidiya camp.

The mayor of Zalingi Abdullah Al-Amin told the government sponsored Sudanese Media Center (SMC) that corpses were buried inside the camp which he said constitutes a violation of the law.

Relations between UNAMID and the Sudanese government reached a low point particularly after the peacekeeping mission refused last July to hand over six IDP’s accused by Khartoum of inciting violence in the Kalma camp in South Darfur.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) extended the mandate of UNAMID in July, but said that the latter should focus on its security role with some Western diplomats saying that they are unhappy with the mission straying into reconstruction projects or seeking a direct role in attempts to negotiate a political settlement.

(ST)