‘West Darfur sold Unamid items worth millions of pounds’

17/10/2014 20:43

Leaders in Kolbus locality, West Darfur, have accused the local government of selling equipment which belonged to the UN and AU, estimated to be worth millions of Sudanese pounds. The equipment was meant for the healthcare and education sectors in Kolbus. A source claimed that two lorries transporting the equipment were seized by peacekeepers in North Darfur. Seifeldin Idris, secretary general of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) in Kolbus, told Radio Dabanga that the 50 local leaders submitted a complaint to the West Darfur state Council. He explained that the equipment, left in Kolbus by the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (Unamid), consists of 300 caravans, about 100 refrigerators, and 100 air conditioners. He estimated their price at SDG300 mn ($52,760,000). Unamid left the items behind after departing Kolbus in 2013, on the condition that the locality would hand it to the local communities, and the healthcare and education sectors in particular. The locality, however, handed the 300 caravans to the paramilitary Popular Defence Forces, and sold the other equipment, Idris claimed. He accused the local government of stealing. “The price that the local government asked for the equipment does not even equal one percent of the original price.” The 50 local leaders demanded from the State Council to return the items to the communities. A committee has been formed to investigate the case, and Unamid was informed of the events. Unamid seizes lorriesA source reported to Radio Dabanga that the Unamid equipment was sold to a company in Khartoum, named Awrad, for SDG250,000 ($43,970). Three lorries transported the items to Khartoum, however, only one of them reached the capital. The other two were seized by the Unamid troops in Mellit, North Darfur. The source added that Unamid has held a meeting with the West Darfur state governor about the events. The West Darfur state Minister of Education is leading the investigation. Sultan Hashim Osman Hashim, member of the ruling National Congress Party in West Darfur and the commissioner of Kolbus are allegedly responsible for the embezzlement. File photo

Leaders in Kolbus locality, West Darfur, have accused the local government of selling equipment which belonged to the UN and AU, estimated to be worth millions of Sudanese pounds. The equipment was meant for the healthcare and education sectors in Kolbus. A source claimed that two lorries transporting the equipment were seized by peacekeepers in North Darfur.

Seifeldin Idris, secretary general of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) in Kolbus, told Radio Dabanga that the 50 local leaders submitted a complaint to the West Darfur state Council.

He explained that the equipment, left in Kolbus by the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (Unamid), consists of 300 caravans, about 100 refrigerators, and 100 air conditioners. He estimated their price at SDG300 mn ($52,760,000). Unamid left the items behind after departing Kolbus in 2013, on the condition that the locality would hand it to the local communities, and the healthcare and education sectors in particular.

The locality, however, handed the 300 caravans to the paramilitary Popular Defence Forces, and sold the other equipment, Idris claimed. He accused the local government of stealing. “The price that the local government asked for the equipment does not even equal one percent of the original price.”

The 50 local leaders demanded from the State Council to return the items to the communities. A committee has been formed to investigate the case, and Unamid was informed of the events.

Unamid seizes lorries

A source reported to Radio Dabanga that the Unamid equipment was sold to a company in Khartoum, named Awrad, for SDG250,000 ($43,970). Three lorries transported the items to Khartoum, however, only one of them reached the capital. The other two were seized by the Unamid troops in Mellit, North Darfur.

The source added that Unamid has held a meeting with the West Darfur state governor about the events. The West Darfur state Minister of Education is leading the investigation. Sultan Hashim Osman Hashim, member of the ruling National Congress Party in West Darfur and the commissioner of Kolbus are allegedly responsible for the embezzlement.

File photo