Nyala, February 5(Darfur24) A delegation from the Command of the Joint Civilian Protection Forces in Darfur, has informed the Government of South Darfur of its readiness to deploy forces to 8 locations in the state as stipulated in the Juba Peace Agreement.
In line with the Juba Peace agreement signed in October 2020 , the government and the former rebel movement agreed to establish a 12.000forces to protect civilians in Darfur after the withdrawal of UNAMID .
The formation of these forces was delayed due to the retardation in implementing the security arrangements clause mentioned in the agreement. However, in the middle of last year, more than 2,500 fighters of the movements were graduated in preparation for their inclusion in the Civilian Protection Force, while more than a thousand affiliates of the movements that signed the agreement are being trained in Dumaya training camp.
A number of areas northeast of Belil locality, 35 kilometers from the city of Nyala, the capital of the state, at the end of last December, witnessed attacks by gunmen that killed more than 10 people and injured others, in addition to burning 9 villages and displacing thousands of citizens.
The second commander of the Civilian Protection Forces, Brigadier General Muhammad Abdullah Sabah al-Khair said afte his meeting with the deputy governor of South Darfur, Bashir Mersal in Nyala on Sunday that he informed the deputy governor of the readiness of the forces to deploy to the locations specified for them in South Darfur, adding that the forces of the movements will join the troops after completing some administrative arrangements.
Sabah mentioned that the forces will be deployed to 8 locations in South Darfur, and the kick off will be in Kalma camp for the displaced people , 17 kilometers east of the city of Nyala.
Sabah Al-Khair explained that the military vehicles of these forces have been equipped, and are now on their way to the Darfur region to complete the deployment process, adding that the government announced a few weeks ago that 163 military vehicles had been allocated to the Civilian Protection Forces in Darfur.
For his part, the deputy governor of South Darfur, Bashir Mersal, said that one of the most important provisions of the Juba Peace Agreement is the provision for the formation of a joint force to protect civilians in voluntary return villages and displacement camps.
Mersal stressed that the state government will overcome all the difficulties facing deployment of these forces , and called on the segments of society in Darfur to fully cooperate with the forces to play their role in protecting civilians and achieving stability in Darfur.