IDPs accuse S. Darfur governor of arming militia to attack their camps
March 20, 2021 (NYALA) – The Coordinator of Darfur Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees accused the Governor of South Darfur of forming and financing tribal militias to dismantle IDPs camps.
“Why the (transitional) government does not keep an eye on the South Darfur Governor, and hold him accountable for his criminal acts and the formation of tribal militias to dismantle the (IDPs) camps,” said Yaqoub Mohamed Abdallah Fury, the general coordinator, in a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune, Saturday.
Fury accused the governor of instructing the state apparatus to arm what he called “Dr Saleh’s group” with various heavy and light weapons in order to create chaos in the Kalma camp and pave the way for its dismantling.
He claimed that the governor also allocated a headquarters for this group and provided them with three cars and funds to recruit militia.
The Sudan Tribune was not able to reach the governor of South Darfur for comment on these allegations.
The statement called on Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok to remove the governor of South Darfur from his position, stressing he “must leave immediately before a disaster strikes the state and Sudan.”
The coordinator denounced the statements of the governor, last week, in which the latter said that “The Kalma camp has become a state within the state.”
The camp which was described as the largest camp for IDPs in Darfur is known for its support to the holdout Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid al-Nur.
Its residents clashed in the past several times with the security authorities. The rebel group also had been accused of hiding weapons inside the camp.
On March 18, UNAMID handed over its team site to the government of South Darfur in the Kalma area, after delaying its handover for a week at the request of the Sudanese government.
UNAMID said the delay was aimed at giving the government more time to reach out to local communities and create favourable conditions for the handover.
(ST)