DRA bashes government for ‘absence during Darfur militia attacks’

The head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) criticised the government on Thursday for its “complete absence in Darfur” against the backdrop of “the rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Darfur”. Dr Tijani Sese accused “some uncontrolled elements” for the attacks and burning of more than 35 villages in South Darfur during the past week. He stressed that they took advantage after the intervention of the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Hamdan, south-east of Nyala to attack the villagers. Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum, Sese called on the government to “direct the forces against the rebels, but not innocent civilians”. From the burnt villages, 11 were constructed within the framework of the DRA project for voluntary return of displaced people, in line with the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, the chairman pointed. “What happens there will not be a catalyst to start in any reconstruction effort in those areas”, Sese stressed. North Darfur clashes The leader of the former rebel Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) further criticised the government’s handling of recent attacks by South Darfur rebel groups, saying “North Darfur suffered a large scale attack and there were no efforts to deal with”.Darfur rebel forces announced the killing of 48 government troops in El Taweisha locality, and claimed full control of North Darfur’s Alliet, El Taweisha, and Kalamindo localities on Wednesday. Unamid has reported the burning of a number of villages and the displacement of a large number of civilians in the vicinity of Um Gunja, located approximately 50 km south-east of Nyala, on 27 and 28 February. “More than 15,000 people fled their homes, the majority has taken refuge in Kalma and El Salam camps”, the UN resident coordinator of development and humanitarian affairs in Khartoum, Adnan Khan, said.File photo: Camp for the displaced in Nyala localityRelated: Rebel forces claim control of North Darfur localities (5 March 2014) DRA head announces 2014 development and rehabilitation budgets for Darfur (11 February 2014)

The head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) criticised the government on Thursday for its “complete absence in Darfur” against the backdrop of “the rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Darfur”.

Dr Tijani Sese accused “some uncontrolled elements” for the attacks and burning of more than 35 villages in South Darfur during the past week. He stressed that they took advantage after the intervention of the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Hamdan, south-east of Nyala to attack the villagers. Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum, Sese called on the government to “direct the forces against the rebels, but not innocent civilians”.

From the burnt villages, 11 were constructed within the framework of the DRA project for voluntary return of displaced people, in line with the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, the chairman pointed. “What happens there will not be a catalyst to start in any reconstruction effort in those areas”, Sese stressed.

North Darfur clashes

The leader of the former rebel Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) further criticised the government’s handling of recent attacks by South Darfur rebel groups, saying “North Darfur suffered a large scale attack and there were no efforts to deal with”.

Darfur rebel forces announced the killing of 48 government troops in El Taweisha locality, and claimed full control of North Darfur’s Alliet, El Taweisha, and Kalamindo localities on Wednesday.

Unamid has reported the burning of a number of villages and the displacement of a large number of civilians in the vicinity of Um Gunja, located approximately 50 km south-east of Nyala, on 27 and 28 February. “More than 15,000 people fled their homes, the majority has taken refuge in Kalma and El Salam camps”, the UN resident coordinator of development and humanitarian affairs in Khartoum, Adnan Khan, said.

File photo: Camp for the displaced in Nyala locality

Related:

Rebel forces claim control of North Darfur localities (5 March 2014)

DRA head announces 2014 development and rehabilitation budgets for Darfur (11 February 2014)