West Darfur commissioner bars Unamid patrols

On 8 October, the commissioner of Beida locality in West Darfur issued a decree prohibiting Unamid patrols in the locality without prior permission from the local authorities. According to the decree, Unamid is prohibited from entering markets and residential districts and villages in the locality, and carrying out military and administrative patrols in the area without permission. Violators of the decree would meet “military action”. Ashraf Eisa, spokesman for Unamid explained to Radio Dabanga that the decree was issued after Unamid officers had withheld the commissioner access to the Unamid team site near Misterei, the capital of Beida locality, where he was to attend an event. The reason was that the commissioner arrived in a vehicle mounted with a Dushka machine-gun. “When the guards of Unamid requested him to enter without weapons, he refused, and left angrily.” Eisa explained that the problem with the commissioner has since been solved, and that the decree has been withdrawn. File photo: Unamid troops from Nigeria patrol at night around Unamid team site in El Daein, capital of East Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid)