Government cracks down on Darfur camp leaders: sheikh

The government began a campaign of harassment against the leaders of the native administration, the sheikhs and the omdas (‘mayors’) in two camps near El Fasher, Abu Shouk and As Salaam. One of the omdas told Radio Dabanga that all the omdas and civil administrators have been targeted and chased by the security service, pointing to the arrest of the omda Mohamed Taban Dai El Nur the day before yesterday.In an interview with Radio Dabanga, the omda further explained that there is a lack of confidence in the Sudanese judiciary and the governmental commissions of inquiry. He said there is no security in Darfur for the displaced and they are constantly threatened. He requested that the UN Security Council form a mechanism to receive complaints by the displaced and to restore justice and security to Darfur.

He said that militias lack accountability to anybody but the government and effectively are immune from trial. The omda called for the international community to act immediately to protect them. He was speaking from Abu Shouk Camp.