RSF troops stationed in South Darfur’s Dereig camp

Elements of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered the Dereig camp for the displaced in Nyala locality, South Darfur, on Monday. They occupied the market and other places in and around the camp. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Hussein Abu Sharati, chairman of the Association of Displaced People and Refugees of Darfur reported that more than 300 heavily armed militiamen in 30 Land Cruisers mounted with Dushka machineguns, entered Dereig camp on Monday evening, and settled in and around the camp. “They are commanded by a nephew of RSF commander Hemeti.” “The 48,000 Dereig camp residents are terrified,” Abu Sharati said. He appealed to the UN, in particular its mission in Darfur (Unamid), and human rights organisations in Darfur to “immediately intervene to prevent a new massacre”. Abu Sharati added that the Darfuri camp leaders and sheikhs “totally reject the settlement of the regular Sudanese forces or militia troops within the camps for the displaced”. “The Association of Displaced People and Refugees of Darfur refers in this point to the international laws and conventions on human rights, ratified by the Sudanese government, and strongly opposes the proposal of the south Darfur State’s government to station RSF militias in and around the camps.” File photo: Militiamen near a camp for the displaced in Darfur (archive Radio Dabanga)