Policeman killed, 4 injured in attack on pilgrims convoy in North Darfur
September 13, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – One policeman was killed and four others were injured in an armed attack against a convoy of pilgrims from South Darfur state in Um-Ziraiga area in North Darfur state while it was heading to the North Darfur state capital, El-Fasher.
The governor of South Darfur state, Adam Mahmoud Jar Al-Nabi, revealed on Friday that his state is cooperating with other states in Darfur on security matters to protect commercial convoys, secure common borders and control outlaws.
He told worshipers following Friday prayers that rebels had attacked a police contingent escorting a convoy of pilgrims comprising of 15 buses, leading to the death of a policeman and the wounding of four others, stressing that all pilgrims arrived in El-Fasher at 9am (local time) on Friday unharmed.
He described the incident as a “message” which reflects that sons of Darfur who joined the rebellion are looting pilgrims, vowing to deter and eliminate the rebels.
The governor underscored his government would not allow presence of any rebel groups inside Kalma IDP camp, pointing they provided Darfur’s joint peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) a list containing names of those involved in camp’s recent incident.
He urged the hybrid UN-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to immediately hand suspects over to authorities without compromise, noting that rebels are still present inside the camp and seek to foment discord in the state.
Jar Al-Nabi further called upon state residents to renounce tribalism, regionalism and sectarian conflict which hampered development and stability of the state.
Earlier this month, two women, including a lactating mother, were killed and four children injured in violent clashes at Kalma IDP camp in South Darfur state.
The deputy secretary-general of refugees and IDPs’ union in Darfur, Adam Abdallah, told Sudan Tribune at the time that a heavily armed government military force stormed the camp in an “inhumane” manner and randomly opened fire on camp residents.
However, Jar al-Nabi dismissed claims of government involvement, accusing an armed group belonging to the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel-Wahid Mohamed al-Nur (SLM-AW) of involvement in the incident.
In 2008, Kalma residents denied government forces entry to the camp, prompting the latter to use military force, which led to the death of 49 people.
Last month, UNAMID expressed concern about the security raids conducted by the government on IDP camps in Nyala and surrounding localities in South Darfur, saying it will make every possible effort to reduce the negative impact of these raids.
UNAMID chief Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the role of his mission is to “ensure that the activities on law enforcement agencies are carried out without infringement of the rights of innocent civilians, especially vulnerable communities in IDP camps”.
On 15 July, the South Darfur governor declared a one-month emergency order in the state, including a curfew from 7pm to 7am in Nyala.
Last month, the state security committee decided to renew the order indefinitely and called on civilians to hand over any weapons they have in their possession.
(ST)