Refugees reject new states

Say the move will only escalate ethnic and tribal tension among Darfuris

Refugees in Darfur expressed their discontent on Thursday over the move to form new states in the region.A leader in Kassab camp in North Darfur, who does not wish to be named, told Radio Dabanga that the move contradicts the agreement arrived at the conference of refugees in Doha, which was attended by delegates from across Darfuri camps.

“The delegates had stated that they prefer a united Darfur, because the new divisions will only create more divisions along tribal and ethnic grounds,” the representative said.

He further demanded that the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), formerly an opposition group and currently an ally of the government, should not accept the division of states within Darfur. The LJM had earlier stood by the united Darfur proposition.

Two new states of East and Central Darfur have been proposed which await presidential clearing. While the government of Sudan has maintained that the re-division will enable better administration, people of Darfur have expressed suspicions about it being a move meant to escalate ethnic tension among the population.