South Darfur Wali: Mental health patients to be detained during inter-school competition

The Wali (Governor) of South Darfur, Adam El Faki, has announced that all metal health patients in the state capital of Nyala are to be detained during the inter-school competition in November.

Thousands of school children from throughout the region will gather in Nyala for the annual competition.

Governor El Faki announced that people he termed ‘insane’ would be detained in the run-up to the competition before for the school children arrive. He said that the measure was precautionary “so that the insane people will do no harm”.

The governor has instructed the arrest of a man named Awad Omar for spitting on and objecting to the governor’s convoy last week.

‘Child labour’

As reported by Radio Dabanga earlier this month, activists and lawyers strongly criticised El Faki for his receipt of a donation from children who make money with dardagat (wheelbarrows). In addition the state received, as a donation from students, two Pounds each in support of inter-school competitions that are planned in South Darfur in November.

Lawyers described the children’s contribution to the state as a “crime”: “Child labour is legally and internationally prohibited.”