Kalma IDPs commemorate killed camp residents, reject Sudan’s peace roadmap

August 26, 2016 (NYALA) – Hundreds of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kalma, one of largest South Darfur camps, gathered on Thursday to mark the 9th anniversary of killing of dozens of the camp residents at the hands of government forces.

Kalma camp for IDPs is located near Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, and is home to thousands of people. Government forces targeted the camp in an August 25, 2008 raid that killed 36 residents and injured 13 others.

Most of the camp residents sympathise with the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abel-Wahid al-Nur which rejects the African Union led process for peace and to bring the armed groups to take part in a comprehensive constitutional conference.

According to Sudan Tribune correspondent, the IDPs handed over a memo to the United Nations, African Union and civil society organizations in the area, rejecting government intentions to plan the camp.

The memo also demanded distribution of food rations, protection of IDPs and refugees and eviction of the “new settlers” who resided in Darfur’s villages and towns during the 13-year conflict.

The IDPs further rejected the Roadmap Agreement signed by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Gibril Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi.

Earlier this month, JEM and SLM-MM among other forces from the opposition umbrella Sudan Call signed the Roadmap Agreement for peace and dialogue brokered by the African Union.

The peace plan provides that the Sudanese governments and the rebel groups should engage in talks to reach agreement on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access before the Sudan Call forces join the government-led national dialogue.

However, the SLM-AW, which refuses to join the African Union brokered peace talks, says not concerned by this process and the Roadmap Agreement.

The rebel group proposes that Khartoum unilaterally implements a number of measures aiming to restore security and ensure the return of villagers to their homeland. After what, the warring parties can engage in a process aiming to address the root causes of the conflict and not its consequences.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)