A UN peacekeeping vehicle on patrol in central Darfur. Photo: AFP
A UN peacekeeping vehicle on patrol in central Darfur. Photo: AFP
A UN peacekeeping vehicle on patrol in central Darfur. Photo: AFP
A UN peacekeeping vehicle on patrol in central Darfur. Photo: AFP

Armed robbers ransack UN compound in Darfur


Ahmed Maher
  • English
  • Arabic

The UN on Saturday night said a compound it had jointly used with the African Union in Sudan’s western region of Darfur was overrun and looted by armed attackers, as the country is still reeling from a political crisis.

The base in Al Fashir, one of Darfur’s largest towns, was run by the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and handed over to the local authorities on December 21.

“The camp was stormed and looted. The Sudanese authorities should have protected it,” said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary General.

“We are deeply concerned about the safety of UNAMID staff members, who are still in the camp,” Mr Haq said.

The UN did not say what had been stolen in the raid.

In past incidents, UN vehicles, food, furniture and money have been stolen in attacks on various missions in the sprawling region, including on the World Food Programme.

UNAMID was also providing the local communities with much needed chemical disinfectants and water purifiers to meet the drinking and cooking needs for hundreds of thousands of citizens.

A UN peacekeeper on patrol in Darfur. Photo: AFP
A UN peacekeeper on patrol in Darfur. Photo: AFP

The UNAMID said the mission has so far handed over some $41 million in assets and equipment to local authorities for civilian use, but 10 of the 14 sites reportedly have suffered theft and destruction.

Sudan is a member of the UN and has an obligation to protect staff of the world body and other international agencies operating in their country.

The UN mission has worked for 13 years in Darfur to protect civilians uprooted by a full-blown conflict.

The battles erupted in 2003 after ethnic groups took up arms against the Sudanese army and militias that supported it, accusing the regime of former autocrat Omar Al Bashir of discrimination, racism and neglect.

Al Bashir, who was deposed by popular uprising in April 2019, has been accused by the International Criminal Court of war crimes and genocide in the conflict that led to the death of more than 300,000 people and displacement of over two million, UN estimates show.

Volker Perthes, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sudan, said in a message in Arabic on his Twitter account that the equipment stolen was to protect civilians by the Darfur authorities.

“I am deeply disappointed by the looting of the former UNAMID base in [Al Fashir] last night. The protection of civilians should be a priority for the state and for armed organisations as well — even those that have been involved in looting,” he said.

A demonstrator holds a sign reading 'Darfur is bleeding' during a protest demanding civilian rule in the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman. Photo: AFP
A demonstrator holds a sign reading 'Darfur is bleeding' during a protest demanding civilian rule in the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman. Photo: AFP

UNAMID completed its mandate on December 31 2020, nearly four months after the transitional government in Khartoum signed a peace deal with a coalition of rebel leaders to end conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

But the evacuation and repatriation of UNAMID premises in Darfur will continue until June 2022.

The recurrent looting of international organisations in Darfur further causes serious disruptions to the work of officials and workers providing life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people.

One year after the signing of a landmark peace agreement to end the armed conflict in Darfur, Sudanese people in the region still complain against what they call marginalisation as their families haven’t yet received better economic, social and education services.

The raid on the UN compound in Darfur came as the country’s stability and unity are in danger.

More mass protests are planned in the capital Khartoum against the coup carried out by military leaders on October 25 and an agreement they announced on November 21 to reinstated Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdouk.

Why your domicile status is important

Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.

Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born. 

UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.

A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.

Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”

Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

 

UAE group fixtures

Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran

Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait

Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi

 

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray 

Updated: December 27, 2021, 8:26 AM`