Sudanese gold prospectors evacuated from Niger to Chad

September 5, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Large numbers of Sudanese gold prospectors have been evacuated from Niger to the Chadian city of Abeche before being transferred to the West Darfur state capital, Al-Geneina.

The commander of the joint Chadian-Sudanese border control force, Abdel-Rahman Fageeri, who visited the miners, said that the move comes within the framework of implementing directives issued by Chadian president Idris Deby to evacuate Sudanese citizens to their country through Chadian territory.

According to Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA), Fageeri disclosed efforts made by the joint force and the Sudanese embassy in N’Djamena to facilitate their transfer to Abeche and then to al-Geneina, noting that the government of West Darfur state has formed a follow-up committee to send the returnees to their various locations inside Sudan.

The governor of the Chadian Wadai region, Abadi al-Sayer, for his part said his government put president Deby’s directives on top of its agendas, stressing that they harnessed all capabilities and directed the concerned bodies to transfer the Sudanese miners to their country.

Sudan’s counsel general in Abeche, Adam Ahmed al-Hag, said the consulate continued to follow up on their transfer in coordination with the Chadian authorities and command of the joint Chadian-Sudanese force, stressing keenness to follow-up on the rights of the returnees in cooperation with Ndjamena.

The representative of the returnees, Youssef Ali Rajab, expressed appreciation to efforts made by authorities in Chad and Sudan to transfer them to their various locations, urging the evacuation of the remaining prospectors who are still stranded in the mining areas in Niger.

(ST)