Protests against Doha donor conference continue in Darfur

In a number of camps across Darfur, displaced persons have continued their protests against the timing of the donors’ conference for the third consecutive day. They say the region continues to witness genocide, war, killings, displacement and rape amid the absence of security and of a comprehensive peace agreement. Displaced from dozens of camps in Darfur started their protests on Friday. Their main demand, before any conference takes place, is the enforcement of security in the region. This is followed by the disarmament of militias, expulsion of new settlers from their lands of origin, trial of perpetrators, and the end of genocide, displacement, systematic rapes and airstrikes. Demonstrations continued on Sunday in Kalma camp in South Darfur, Kabkabiya in North Darfur and Zalingei in Central Darfur. Hussein Abu al-Sharati, spokesman for the association of displaced persons and refugees of Darfur, told Radio Dabanga from Kalma camp that the displaced presented a memo to UNAMID with their demands. Abdel Wahid al-Nur, head of the Sudan Liberation Movement, appealed to the countries participating in the donors’ conference not to contribute to, what he described, the genocide in Darfur. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, he said that “any country that pays money to the government of Sudan is participating in the ongoing genocide in Darfur, because this money is going to be spent on shelling and Antonovs and on pro-government militias to continue the genocide in Darfur.” Related: Thousands protest against timing of Doha donors summit in Darfur (5 April 2013)