A new committee, named “The Popular Committee” for Managing the Tasks of Central Darfur State, recently held a general conference and appointed Abdul Karim Yousif as the Committee Chairman and Abdul Ghani Haroun as Vice Chairman.
The committee’s head, Engineer Abdul Karim, explained to Radio Tamazuj that despite the existence of prior initiatives, the community’s request led to his committee’s formation. He emphasized that the members were well-qualified to handle the upcoming stages.
“I recognized the need to address the void left by the absence of official government agencies,” he explained.
Abdul Karim called upon the Zalingei community to collaborate in ensuring the committee’s success. Additionally, he expressed his complete readiness to step down if the community identified a more competent and acceptable candidate.
Civil society activist Aziza Ahmed praised the decision, stating, “The selection of Abdul Karim is the right decision.” She expressed hope for the ongoing work to accomplish tasks until the state achieves stability.
Yasir Sarji, the representative of the Hamidiyah camp for the displaced, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative in an interview with Radio Tamazuj. He extended his gratitude to Engineer Abdul Karim for accepting the assignment, emphasizing its broad societal support.
According to Yasir, the success of the mandate hinges on the collaborative efforts of the community. However, he stressed the need for establishing security as a foundational step for the various projects to expand beyond the state, providing a way out of the current impasse in the region.
Musa Ahmed Ali, a leader in the civil administration, clarified that the committee’s objective is to advance the state of Central Darfur. He expressed hope that the citizens’ collective voice would be unified, anticipating success for the chosen group managing the state.
Activist Rawda Ahmed highlighted the imperative to protect and support the displaced population, citing ongoing daily threats and violations, particularly due to life pressures. She pointed out economic challenges, mentioning the soaring price of onions, exceeding 9 thousand pounds per kilo. Rawda also called for the release of detainees and prisoners of war.
Al-Shartay Yaqoub, representative of the head of the civil administration in Zalingei, voiced unwavering support for the committee’s head under all circumstances. He urged the Rapid Support Forces’ Commander to ensure justice among the people, portraying the RSF’s control over Zalingei as a divine decree.
It’s worth noting that in October, the Rapid Support Forces assumed control of the army base in East Darfur and currently maintain control over the area.