Sudanese refugees in Nigeria hail Darfur agreement

ORU, Nigeria, Nov 11, 2004 (PANA) — Sudanese refugees in Nigeria have hailed Tuesday’s signing of the Darfur security and humanitarian protocols by the Sudanese government and the two main rebel groups at the peace talks in Abuja.

Portrait of a Sudanese woman living at an IDPs camp of camp of Krinding near El Geneina, in Sudan’s Darfur.

Speaking at their Oru camp, some one-hour drive from the
commercial city of Lagos Wednesday, the refugees however urged the parties to genuinely work toward lasting peace by sticking to the agreements.

One of the refugees, who identified himself simply as Sadiq, told PANA that the biggest obstacle to peace in Darfur, where
government forces and the rebel groups — Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement — have battled for the last 20 months, is the tough stance taken by the parties on critical issues.

Another refugee, Ayai Kual, expressed doubt that the Sudanese
government could be trusted to implement the accords, which will facilitate access to aid by the more than 1.6 million people displaced in Darfur and ensure their security.

“The government of Sudan is not a government to be trusted. Let me plead with our African leaders to be decisive in dealing with the crisis. That government is not loyal to the African cause but is loyal to the Arabs. That is why the Darfurians are constantly being attacked… because they are black,” he alleged

“Racism is at the root of the crisis, it is a big problem which has to be resolved,” he added.

Both parties have pledged to implement the protocols, the first major achievement at the talks, which opened in the Nigerian capital 26 August.

The talks have adjourned till 10 December.