South Darfur to lift state of emergency in three months: Governor

September 6, 2015 (NYALA) – Governor of South Darfur State Adam al-Faki Mohamed has announced that the state of emergency that has been in place since August 2014 will be lifted in the next three months, due to improvement in security conditions.

Mohamed said in a press statement on Sunday that his Government will take pre-emptive measures that will include arresting the remaining outlaws still at large.

He disclosed that those outlaws that had been arrested under the emergency law will be dispatched to the prisons of Port Sudan, Red Sea State, to stand trial there. “Expulsion of criminals outside the State is a well-deserved punishment for those who tamper with the safety and security of citizens,” he noted.

The governor said the significant improvement in security conditions, following the arrest of 80% of the criminal gangs, had tempted them to consider lifting the state of emergency.

“The recent security measures have resulted in a sharp decline in crimes,” he added, noting that the incidents that occasionally take place are small criminal acts.

He further said the state of emergency had been a heavy burden on citizens, crippling their movement.

“This is against human rights,” he stressed.

Nyala, the State capital, was the scene of a brutal murder crime last Monday when armed men shot to death three citizens while walking around in al-Salam neighborhood around 10 pm.

Security forces laid hands on three suspects in connection with the crime.

The South Darfur State had imposed the state of emergency in August 2014 following a sharp deterioration in security, and the city saw frequent looting, murder and kidnapping incidents in downtown.

As part of those measures, a curfew was imposed from 10pm and vehicles with no number plates were banned.

(ST)