West Darfur Wali: 11 suspects arrested for El Geneina violence

The Acting Governor (Wali) of West Darfur, Maj Gen Rabei Adam, announced that the investigative committee regarding the recent violence in the camp for the displaced of Kerending in El Geneina has confirmed the arrest of 11 suspects.

In a press conference on Thursday, the governor explained that the investigative committee arrested 11 people and transferred them to stand trial in Khartoum. He also added that the report revealed that some accused persons are under investigation and yet to be arrested. “The committee is investigating the rest of the alleged perpetrators,” he added.

The governor also confirmed that three rape cases have been reported to the authorities in El Geneina. He pointed out that in Sirba locality in West Darfur a girl was raped and still she is recovering in the hospital.

The governor denounced the unauthorised demonstrations by stating that there are some groups that have been terrorising and undermining the safety and security of the people in West Darfur. “These groups carry out organised crimes, but the government is going to take decisive and legal measures against these groups,” he said. The governor said that these groups have terrorised and blackmailed the residents in the city in a couple of night markets in West Darfur and that is why the government decided to close these markets from six in the evening until six in the morning every day. “Therefore, we advise the activists who organised demonstrations to follow the legal procedures,” he added.

The governor further revealed that they have made some plans for the return of the displaced people who have been sheltering in the government institutions over the last two months to the Kerending and Sultan House camps displaced people. We made these plans based on the assessment and the cooperation between the government, NGOs, and the United Nations agencies that provided the basic needs for these people in the camp. We have taken measures to provide sufficient security to protect the people in these camps, he said.

The governor also confirmed that they have blocked the borders for the vehicle smugglers between Sudan, Libya, and Central Africa. He stressed that the local state security committee will deal decisively with any vehicle entering illegally to West Darfur.

On Jan 6, (SUNA) reported that the Attorney General, Tajssir El Hibir affirmed that the investigation committee in the incidents of Geneina, capital of West Darfur State, has started its work in full neutrality, transparency, and high professionalism.