Protests were held across the states of Darfur, demanding the continuation of the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
Hundreds of displaced people marched from local camps in Central Darfur to the UNAMID headquarters in Zalingei, calling on the international community to reconsider the end of the mission.
Protestors said that the withdrawal of UNAMID exacerbates the deterioration of the security situation and leads to rising levels of crime.
They also pointed out that women face physical, sexual and verbal violence, and that they are in fear of being forced to return to their lands and villages.
The protestors demanded that the UNAMID mission remains in Darfur until security is guaranteed, those indicted have been handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC), groups and militias have been disarmed, new settlers have been removed, international humanitarian organisations expelled by the former regime have returned, and peace has been reached through a dialogue that incorporates all the different groups in Sudan.
In Kass, South Darfur, Murnei, West Darfur and Kabkabiya, North Darfur, internally displaced people protested as well. They chanted slogans stressing that UNAMID is necessary to protect the displaced and provide security.
In Khartoum, hundreds of vehicles drove out to the headquarters of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and the European Union mission in solidarity with the displaced.
The protestors demanded that UNAMID remain. In Port Sudan a procession took place as well.
The wali (governor) of West Darfur, Mohamed El Doma, said that the Vice President of the Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’ is set to increase the number of joint forces to protect civilians in Darfur to 18,000 instead of the 12,000 planned earlier.
At a press conference in Khartoum yesterday, the governor said that UNAMID was providing services to both the displaced and non-displaced people of Darfur.
He said the peacekeeping mission is documenting human rights violations and writing reports.
He called on other states and the Sudanese government to put measures in place so that joint forces are formed to protect civilians.
Displaced people in South Darfur have protested against the UNAMID withdrawal for weeks.
(Dabanga)
