Refugees say UNAMID chief statements about voluntary return misleading

Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad have denounced the statements of Ibrahim Gambari, the head of the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) saying he witnessed groups of refugees returning from Chad to Darfur. A refugee for eastern Chad said he was surprised at the statements and wondered whether Gambari had become ‘the UNAMID mouthpiece for the ruling National Congress Party.’ He said when the government and UNAMID refer to the return of refugees; they are actually talking about the new settlers, who have arrived from countries such as Niger and Mali, along with Chadian war refugees in Sudan, who have resettled in displaced Darfuri residents’ land. He said the reasons they had to flee their lands remain the same, as their villages are still insecure and patrolled by pro government militias. He called on Gambari to tell the truth and not lie about the security situation in Darfur.