Protests Force President Omar al-Bashir to Cancel Rally at Kalma IDP Camp, South Darfur
Category: Unrest
Severity: 2 (Low)
Source: Drum Cussac
09/21/2017 (Sudan) - Local media reports on Thursday, 21 September, indicate that President Omar al-Bashir has been forced to cancel a planned rally at South Darfur's Kalma internally displaced persons (IDP) camp following several days of protests at the site. According to security officials, al-Bashir is now expected to address a public gathering at a square near Alsalam School in the Belil district on Friday. The President is currently on a tour of the Darfur region during which he has claimed that stability is returning to the region and urged those displaced by the conflict to return home. However, rumours of al-Bashir's planned rally sparked several days of unrest in the Kalma camp with a number of residents attempting to block officials from entering the site. Although there has been a decrease in fighting between government forces and rebel groups in Darfur since the government declared a unilateral ceasefire in June 2016, insecurity persists across much of the Darfur region with communal tensions frequently escalating into violent confrontations.
Those in South Darfur are advised to minimise non-essential travel in the vicinity of the Kalma IDP camp on Friday due to the risk of further unrest linked to the presidential rally. Travellers should liaise with in-country sources and monitor local media for further updates on the protests and other security-related developments in the region. Any demonstrations or political gatherings should be avoided due to the risk of exposure to potential crowd disturbances and incidental violence. Travel to the Darfur region should be limited to operationally-critical requirements due to persistent outbreaks of violence and risk from criminal activity. Travellers are strongly advised to seek security consultation on a trip-by-trip basis, and subject any required travel in the region to a rigorous localised threat assessment prior to deployment.
Copyright © 2024 Drum Cussac
Related
News Alerts and Safety Profiles are provided strictly for informational purposes and contain the best available data at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, the information in this report has not been independently verified and HTH Worldwide therefore accepts no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies in such information and any such liability is expressly denied, and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made. Documents may be amended or withdrawn at any time without cause.