Sudanese authorities seek to identify the instigators of El-Geneina unrest : governor

January 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – West Darfur governor disclosed that investigations are underway to determine those who instigate the occupation of the state government premises and the house of the governor last week.

To protest the insecurity in their area, inhabitants of Moli village, outside the state capital, stormed the government headquarters in El Geneina carrying their belongings and animals.

The security authorities used live ammunition to force them to evacuate the building, and killed over ten Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking in a radio talk show at the official Radio Omdurman, the Governor Khalil Abdallah said they seek to identify those who caused the El-Geneina events by pushing the villagers to leave their areas and to head to the government premises instead of going to IDPs camps.

“It is clear that there is someone who planed and directed these events,” Abdallah said adding “Investigations are underway to identify the instigators of these events”.

The Sudanese officials in the past, used to accuse rebel groups of manipulating the IDPs to tarnish its efforts to restore peace and bring security in Darfur region.

The governor praised the efforts of the traditional leaders – Native Administration- to calm down the tensions in the region but he didn’t provide further details.

He further pledged to hold a conference for traditional leaders to reduce inter-communal conflicts to consolidate peaceful coexistence in the region.

The federal and state governments set up fact findings committees that will submit their conclusions within a week.

(ST)