Difficult road to peace in Gereda

With 135,000 internally displaced persons, the city of Gereda in South Darfur houses the highest number of IDPs in Darfur – a region in which some 2.5 million are displaced. After reports of a steady influx of IDPs in the locality, a United Nations team visited the area to assess the situation. The local authorities called for implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), while the displaced populations sought improved security and extended assistance.

On the 14th of February, a team composed of different UN organizations drove to Gereda to meet the local authorities and IDPs. The city, located three hours South of Nyala, the state capital, is secured by elements of the Sudanese Liberation Army under the command of Minni Minawi (SLA-MM). The rebel movement, signatory to the peace agreement, assumes the authority of the state in the area, while the government of Sudan takes over further to the south. However, relations between the partners are tense.

'The government is not committed to its word' declares an SLA-MM member in the area. He insists that 'the government has not implemented its requirement to provide logistical support to the movement. Until this is done, we will not allow the government to have authority over the area'. He adds, however, that he does not have power to protect the area's inhabitants and wants UNAMID to disarm the Arab tribe accused of banditry and violence against the local population – a tribe he says is Government backed. Read more >>>>>>>>>>>>>>