Al-Yurae, Khartoum, (Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London): The General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees said that more than 3,700 displaced people have fled the camp of Sartonoi in North Darfur due to threats from groups affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by the deputy head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, “Hemedti”.
According to Adam Rajal, spokesman for the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, civilians in Darfur live under extremely difficult security and humanitarian conditions, exacerbated by the military’s coup against the transitional government on October 25th.
He pointed out in a statement that a group affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces threatened civil sheikhs in the camp «Sartouni» because of the allegations of the disappearance of a military SUV, belonging to them, inside the camp, pointing out that these threats caused panic for the displaced and fled to the mountains and caves, fearing that they would be subjected to an armed attack from those forces.
He described what happened as irresponsible behavior, denouncing the threat to the security of the camp, noting that Darfur is witnessing widespread human rights violations by armed groups loyal to the Sudanese authorities.
He warned of what he called “systematic attempts” by the Sudanese authorities to dismantle the camps, which aim to obliterate the effects of genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
“The General Coordination of Camps for Displaced Persons and Refugees holds the state and federal authorities responsible for the evil and orchestrated schemes carried out by its affiliated militias against the unarmed displaced in Darfur,” he said, stressing that the failure to achieve justice for Darfur’s crimes has been encouraging “criminals” to commit further violations against human rights.
After the grinding war in Darfur that broke out in 2003 and killed some 300,000 Sudanese, the peace agreement, signed by the transitional government with the Revolutionary Front (RUF), which includes armed and opposition movements, on October 3, 2020, was expected to end the country’s decades-long armed conflict, but the situation remains stagnant, amid calls for amending or canceling the agreement.
The agreement included five tracks, divided according to the country’s regions, Darfur, Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains, the north, and the central east, including areas that have not experienced wars or conflicts, represented by political organizations within the Revolutionary Front, which also includes armed movements.
After the military’s coup against the transitional government on October 25, a number of armed movements supported the army’s move as a modification of the country’s transition path, while others condemned the coup but continued to partner with the camp, citing the protection of the gains of the peace agreement.
Despite the military’s and movements’ emphasis on protecting the peace agreement, hundreds of civilians have been killed in Darfur and other conflict zones in the country in armed conflicts, in which the Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees accuses armed groups affiliated with the authorities of participating in them.
Two years after the signing of the peace agreement, the implementation of many of its provisions, particularly those related to security arrangements, which include the integration of the country’s multiple armies and the formation of forces to protect civilians in conflict zones, remains stalled.
In a statement on the anniversary of the signing of the peace agreement, the head of the United Nations Mission in Support of the Democratic Transition in Sudan (UNMIS), Volker Peretz, considered that the two-year anniversary of the signing of the agreement is a strong reminder that much remains to be done, noting the urgent need to implement the provisions of the security arrangements, the rapid deployment of the Joint Security Force to ensure the protection of civilians, in addition to the establishment of relevant commissions such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Displaced Persons, the Office of the Transitional Justice Commission, the Office of the Land and Hawakir, the Office of the Travellers and Sponsors, and the implementation of other items. Associated with the sharing of power, wealth and reparations.
Speaking to London’s Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, political analyst Hafez Kabir said that the most important part of the security arrangements agreement is the establishment of the Protection of Civilians Forces, noting that the authorities face challenges in the following funding the agreement, especially in light of the current political turmoil and the country’s economic complexities.
He noted that although the first group of FFC has graduated, the procedures for taking over their duties have not yet been completed, while others are still under training.
He pointed out that some movements carried out extensive recruitment operations following the signing of the peace agreement, which subsequently posed challenges in providing adequate funding to cover their expenses, which led to the spread of armed looting in Darfur.
He pointed out that some movements have not been absorbed into power structures and political and military arrangements, which have threatened escalation, while others are still outside the peace agreement, noting that this represents another challenge, even if the security arrangements are implemented, which seems to include not all armed groups in Darfur.
Security expert Amin Majzoub agreed, who told the london based (Al-Quds Al-Arabi) that the obstacles preventing the implementation of the security arrangements protocol are some political complexities and others related to funding, pointing out that the refusal of armed movements to switch to political parties and adherence to the stay of their forces for three years may increase if the transitional period is extended and security arrangements are not implemented.
He pointed out that the movements should contribute to the return of the displaced to their villages, pointing out that there are no steps in this regard, despite the passage of two years since the signing of the agreement, pointing out that what has been implemented in the agreement so far is the division of power and wealth only, while the provisions on transitional justice, the return of displaced persons, compensation and reparations have not been implemented and the commissions entrusted with this have not been formed.
Following the funding, he pointed out that the government is unable to finance the process of security arrangements, which is estimated to cost $ 4 billion, noting that under the current international boycott, it seems not possible to complete the arrangements in particular.وبين أن عملية
The grouping of the forces of the armed movements, in points in preparation for the start of security arrangements, is a challenge between the virtual numbers and the numbers of the movements forces after the random recruitment operations that took place following the signing of the peace agreement, pointing out that large numbers were recruited and granted membership cards for the movements.
Political analyst Hatem al-Dardeiri told Al-Quds Al-Arabi that after the military coup, the international community decided to stop supporting the current authorities in the country in which armed movements participate, which means stopping funding the peace agreement. He described the decision to end the work of the African Union-United Nations Task Force in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2020 as a grave mistake, which caused a security vacuum in the region, noting that the international force should have continued its work for at least another year until the formation of national forces to protect civilians.
The country’s multiple armed groups are untrained and do not have a national military doctrine consistent with supporting the democratic transition, the civilian state and the protection of the constitution.
He pointed out that the implementation of this protocol requires high political and diplomatic prudence and clear international mechanisms, pointing out that if this does not happen, the security and stability of the country will face wide threats.
According to al-Dardeiri, the Sudanese authorities have so far failed to implement the protocol of security arrangements, which is a repeat of the failures of previous agreements in particular
