JEM rebels call on Gambari to step down over North-Darfur incident
April 2, 2012 (LONDON) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has called on the head of the African Union / United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to resign after the death of several people in an incident of local unrest involving Sudanese police and peacekeepers.
However, more violence occurred after the tragic incident when UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari and head of Darfur Regional Authority Tijani El-Sissi visited to the area provoking more protests. Reportedly, two more people were killed when the protesters attempted to force their way into the UNAMID compound to hand a letter to the head of the mission.
JEM secretary for foreign relations, Ahmed Hussein Ahmed, denounced the silence of the international community particularly the United Nations Security Council, over the incident and urged them to dispatch a fact finding mission to the region to investigate the incident.
He underscored that the peacekeeping mission was involved in the death of locals, adding that 4 people were killed by UNAMID soldiers.
“We also urge the resignation of Ibrahim Gambari because he was there when some civilians were killed or injured by the peacekeepers,” said Adam. “And if he refuses we call on the Security Council to dismiss him,” he further said.
The Darfur Lawyers Association condemned the Kabkabiya incident and called for an independent and neutral commission to investigate the circumstances of the deaths. They stressed that such body should not include Sudanese government or UNAMID as they are both accused of being part in the dispute.
The rebel official went further to say that the UN Security Council should not only probe the incident but also has investigate the performances of UNAMID, pointing out that the “leadership of the mission” has overlooked its mandate (protection of civilians) and become an ally of the Sudanese government.
Adam wondered why the violence and repression in Syria was triggering such international mobilisation, while Darfur’s civilians were being ignored. It was “as if the Syrian blood is different from Darfurian blood,” he said.
He also underscored that UN soldiers have no immunity for crimes they commit, and urged a quick reaction from the Security Council, emphasised that the joint UN/AU Mission is now part of the crisis in the region.
On 29 March, Gambari issued a statement defending his position after statements form North Darfur officials accusing UNAMID of bearing some responsibility in the death of civilians in the Kabakabiya incident.
“UNAMID has confirmed that it did not attempt to harm any member of the population during the demonstrations in front of its camp this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Seven UNAMID peacekeepers were injured when protestors tried to force entry into the UNAMID compound” said a statement released by the hybrid operation.
The peacekeeping mission said Gambari offered UNAMID’s mediation to resolve the conflict. UNAMID said that “a multi-disciplinary assessment mission” will be sent soon to investigate its soldiers, as well as another joint mission to probe the dispute involving the Sudanese authorities.
(ST)