South Darfur arms collection: Sudan’s 2nd V-P, Wali, Unamid meet at Kalma camp

The Second Vice-President of Sudan, Hasabo Abdulrahman, chaired a meeting in Kalma camp for the displaced near Nyala in South Darfur to discuss arms collection in the camps.

Also present were the Governor (Wali) of South Darfur Adam El Faki, and a Unamid delegation headed by Gersah Sasa Polo.

In a press statement, Governor El Faki said that the meeting discussed how to collect weapons from the camps for the displaced, in particular camp Kalma, as well the overall plan to collect weapons in the state.

He explained that Unamid requested that the collection of weapons be conducted through a joint plan to be discussed in Nyala.

He pointing to the agreement on the overall plan to collect weapons from camp Kalma, “provided that it would be in a civilised manner that does not affect the displaced people”.

‘Show of force’

In a statement this month, Unamid called on the Sudanese authorities to coordinate the search of illegal weapons in the Darfur camps for the displaced with the UN-AU peacekeepers.

The Unamid statement was in reaction to a “show of force” by armed government forces in Kalma camp on November 1, when Sudanese government forces in at least 200 vehicles, including armoured cars and rocket launchers, caused panic among the displaced in Kalma camp.

“While Unamid acknowledges the significance of the ongoing arms collection exercise, it regrets the entry by the Government forces to Kalma camp was not coordinated with the mission to avoid any potential tension and violence”, Unamid Joint Special Representative, Jeremiah Mamabolo said.

“We call on the government and the displaced to work with Unamid in a collaborative way in order to advance the weapons collection campaign.”

Unamid concluded by stating that it will continue “to engage with government authorities and Kalma displaced camp leaders in accordance with its protection of civilians mandate”.