South Darfur grants amnesty to sheikhs

The five community leaders were accused of participating in Kalma camp violence last year

Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha, governor of South Darfur, pardoned on Saturday several persons, including five sheikhs (community leaders), in Kalma camp in South Darfur.The Governor, invoking the spirit of the Muslim Holy Feast of Eid, granted amnesty to the five local sheikhs sheltering in UNAMID’s community policing centre (CPC) near the Kalma Camp.

The sheikhs were accused of involvement in an incident of violence that took place last year when supporters of the Doha peace negotiations clashed with non-supporters. The event had caused deaths and injuries.

Governor Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha said he believed the granting of amnesty to the five would enhance the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and encourage reconciliation among residents of Kalma Camp

The deputy coordinator of Kalma camp welcomed the amnesty move made by the government. He told Radio Dabanga, “The resolution has come at a happy occasion. This proves that the sheikhs of displaced people have not committed any crime to be arrested or brought to court, even according to the government.”

The sheikhs who were released under the amnesty move are Osman Abdel-Rahman Abu al-Qasim, Omda Adam Sharaf al-Din, Mohammed Hussein Abdul-Jabbar, Mohammad Abdul-Rahman and Eve Joseph.

The UNAMID welcomed the resolution from the governor. Kamal Al-Saeki, official spokesperson of the UNAMID told Radio Dabanga, “We welcome the decision that came in the spirit of Eid ul-Fitr and the reconciliation and forgiveness.”

Gambari welcomes move

Following the amnesty declaration, Joint special representative Gambari expressed his profound appreciation to the Governor of South Darfur and to the Government of Sudan, for the peaceful resolution of the matter.

He said, “Our approach of patience and persistence in handling this matter has produced a win-win and peaceful resolution.”

The JSR appealed to the sheikhs to be of good behavior while encouraging them to play a constructive role in the peace process and national reconciliation, especially in the spirit of Ramadan and the Holy Feast of Eid.

Sheikh injured in firing

On the other hand Sheikh Hussein Mustafa Al-Nur, a sheikh in Kalma camp was injured in an attack by two gunmen on Saturday.

The sheikh sustained two bullet injuries in his leg from the incident that occurred in a farm near the camp. The gunmen riding on camels demanded the sheikh’s mobile phone and on refusing to hand it over, they shot the sheikh twice on his feet and fled the scene.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the sheikh was taken to Nyala Hospital where he underwent a surgery to remove the bullets out of his feet. Witnesses added that three sheikhs from Kalma camp had been robbed off their mobile phones at gunpoint on Saturday.