Refugees pelt stones at South Darfur governor

Sheikh says anger not directed at Abdel Hamid Musa Kasha, but the regime in Khartoum

Residents of Kalma camp pelted stones at Abdel Hamid Musa Kasha’s car when the South Darfur governor paid a surprise visit to the camp on Thursday.Sheikh Ali Taher, the community leader of the camp, expressed deep regret for what happened to Kasha. He told Radio Dabanga that the displaced people did not have a problem with the governor as such but with the government in Khartoum.

“The residents are rather happy with the governor’s recent amnesty decision which released five sheikhs from the camp. The sheikhs in the camp had no idea about the arrival of the governor, otherwise we would have liked to welcome him,” Sheikh Ali Taher said.

He added that the governor’s efforts have been much appreciated by refugees as the number of detentions in Kalma camp had reduced since he assumed office.

The sheikh added that solutions to the real problems of the refugees lie with the government in Khartoum, which caused displacement of the villagers in the first place and led them to flee their villages.