Addis Ababa, May 29(Darfur24)
Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement, the Transitional Council, Nimr Abdel Rahman, revealed that a joint military force from 4 neutral armed movements would be formed to protect civilians in Darfur and help secure smooth delivery of humanitarian aid to the needy people in five states of Darfur.
The movements that make up the joint force include the Sudan Liberation Transitional Council, headed by Al-Hadi Idris, the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering, headed by Al-Tahir Hajar, the Justice and Equality Council, headed by Suleiman Sandal, and the Sudanese Alliance, headed by Hafez Abdel Nabi.
Speaking exclusively to Darfur24, Abdel Rahman said the 4 movements have effectively formed the Presidential Council of the Neutral Joint Force, and it is expected that the military command of the Joint Force on the field will be formed in the coming days.
He added, “There will be a large military force on the ground that can be used to help humanitarian organizations enter the Darfur region, protect civilians, and prevent the outbreak of any tribal war in the region. The force will also help raise awareness among citizens on the security level, as well as secure the next agricultural season.”
Nimr pointed out that the Presidential Council consists of a horizontal leadership that includes all the heads of the organizations that make up the joint force, namely, “Hadi Idris, Al-Taher Hajar, Hafez Abdel Nabi, and Suleiman Sandal.”
He announced the existence of ongoing contacts and meetings with the Sudan Liberation Movement, headed by Abdel Wahed Mohamed Nour, to be part of the joint force to protect civilians in Darfur.
Tasks
Nimr, a former governor of North Darfur who was dismissed by Al-Burhan after the outbreak of the current war, explained that the tasks of the Presidential Council of the Joint Force are to “attract humanitarian support for civilians in Darfur and introduce the regional and international community to the role of the neutral force and its importance in protecting citizens, and to explain the political position on the ongoing war between the army and the forces.” Rapid support and establishing the principle of neutrality.
Nimr stressed that the tasks of the joint military force are to “protect civilians and assist and protect international humanitarian organizations in reaching citizens with aid, as well as preventing the outbreak of any civil wars through rapid intervention if any indications of the outbreak of tribal fighting appear,” explaining that the tasks of the joint force will not be limited to North Darfur. But it includes the entire region.
Regarding the location of the military forces of the neutral organizations, Nimr says that “they are currently present in well-known locations in the Darfur region, where the forces of the Transitional Council and the Sudan Liberation Forces are stationed, in Al-Fasher and in various locations in North Darfur, as well as the Sudanese Alliance, while the Justice and Equality Party, headed by Suleiman Sandal, is present.” In the areas of Al-Tineh and Wadi Hour.”
The situation in El Fasher
The former governor of North Darfur painted a bleak picture of the humanitarian and security conditions in the city of El Fasher, which has witnessed continuous fighting for more than two weeks between the Sudanese army and its allies in the movements against the Rapid Support Forces.
Nimr Abdul Rahman said that the humanitarian situation in the city of El Fasher is tragic for civilians caught in the middle of the conflict, stressing that the only hospital in the city was filled with wounded citizens, while battles are still continuing inside the neighborhoods amid violent exchanges of artillery shelling.
Nimr confirmed that the few humanitarian organizations that were providing food and medical aid, such as the World Food Program and the French Doctors Without Borders, have now withdrawn from the city, saying: “Now the reality is very difficult. There is a large displacement movement from the city to the areas of Dar es Salaam, Shangil Tobai, Tawila, and Korma.”
About 20,000 families fled the city of El Fasher and arrived in Dar es Salaam locality, most of whom live with host families, and others in 11 shelter centers, according to the local emergency department.
While more than 8,000 people who fled from El Fasher arrived in the city of El Daein in East Darfur State, they were received in shelter centers without assistance being provided to them in light of an acute shortage of water and food, according to activists there.
Safe passages
Nimr appealed to the warring parties to open safe passages for civilians wishing to escape from the midst of the fire. He also appealed to the international and regional community to put sufficient pressure on the parties to stop violations against civilians in El Fasher.
He added, “The humanitarian reality in the city of El Fasher is very bitter and needs saving as quickly as possible, and the international community must put pressure on the conflicting parties.”
He pointed out that the Transitional Council movement had previously presented proposals to address the situation in El Fasher, including removing the army and the Rapid Support Forces from El Fasher, and for the city to be under the control of neutral movements that help maintain security and facilitate the organizations’ task of reaching aid to civilians, but unfortunately the parties did not respond because they were determined to The war continues.
While the second proposal is for the two parties to allow the exit of citizens trapped in the middle of fires and areas burning in battles, by opening safe corridors for them in order to preserve their lives, and he stressed the necessity of implementing the second proposal after the failure of the first.
The ongoing conflict in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has disrupted the livelihood of the city’s residents, which suffers from a severe shortage of drinking water and food, with some citizens being satisfied with one meal a day.
Dozens of members of “Shameless” and the Empowerment Removal Committee in South Darfur were arrested
The army, the movements, and the Rapid Support compete to collect taxes in El Fasher