West Darfur govt. takes measures ‘to maintain stability’

The government of West Darfur took several new measures last week, in an attempt to reduce the insecurity in the state.

Governor Fadlelmawla El Haja announced the banning of public and tribal gatherings in the West Darfur capital of El Geneina on Thursday. 

He said that the new measures aim to “maintain stability in the state”.

Vehicles coming from Darfur-Chad border towns are prohibited to enter El Geneina from 7 pm to 6 am. Commercial lorries carrying goods are not allowed to enter the state capital any more between 7 pm to 7 am.

Shooting in the air for any purpose is prohibited as well.

“All who violate these measures will be arrested and sent to the prison of Port Sudan,” El Haja threatened.

Apart from these measures, a committee will be established that will work on reconciliation between the Masalit, the main tribe in West Darfur headed by Sultan Saad Abdelrahman Bahreldin, and native administration leaders from other tribes in the state.

The governor as well issued a decree appointing leaders in the Sultanate of Dar Masalit and the Sultanate of Diyar El Gamar.

Jailed

Dozens of Maaliya tribal leaders are still being held in prisons in Khartoum and Port Sudan.

After fierce fighting between Maaliya and Rizeigat in East Darfur’s Muhajiriya in mid-July, the state authorities opted for an unprecedented detention campaign among the tribesmen.

A large number of Maaliya and Rizeigat leaders were held in end July and early August. About 95 of them were charged and sentenced to prison terms between three to six months by a special East Darfur emergency court. Others were never charged. They were transferred to prisons in Khartoum and Port Sudan to prevent attempts by their fellow tribesmen to release them.

In mid-March this year, activists and lawyers called for the release of 63 Maaliya tribesmen who have been detained without charge for more than eight months.