Compound of French NGO surrounded in Darfur

The office of a French aid organisation was closed-down by the police in Central Darfur capital Zalingei at 4.30 pm on Thursday. The forces surrounded the compound and handed all assets to the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), a government organ that regulates NGOs in Sudan The Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) has thus far declined to comment, but provided all its remaining staff members with a letter of termination on Wednesday, prior to their last working day. The organisation had to surrender all its vehicles, stores and computers. A staff member told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that ACTED “had to leave Sudan entirely”. On Thursday, ACTED prevented its employees from talking to the press, and was not willing to provide any information. Many NGOs are afraid to speak-up in Darfur, fearing expulsion. On Monday, security officers entered the ACTED compound in Zalingei and ordered the staff to leave the premises. Last month, the Sudanese government suspended the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Map: Zalingei, Central Darfur Related: French aid organisation shut-down in Darfur (19 March 2014)