Police authorities in El Geneina town, West Darfur State, have announced the resumption of their duties following the conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Force (RSF).
According to reports, there were more than 11,000 police personnel before fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April.
El Geneina is one of the war-torn Darfur region’s capitals that the RSF has fully taken over last month. The RSF has been accused of carrying out a wave of ethnic killings in West Darfur following the capture of the state.
Lieutenant Colonel Ali Mohammed Zakaria, overseeing the responsibilities of the state police director, stated in an interview with Radio Tamazuj that more than 500 police officers responded to a call by acting governor Al-Tijani Al-Taher Karshoum to resume their work in El Geneina, which is now under the control of the Rapid Support Forces.
Citizens had requested the return of the police and we began working in the city department and activated reports,” he said.
Zakaria explained that attempts to involve the former police director in the resumption of duties were unsuccessful. He noted the challenging conditions during the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, making it difficult for them to carry out their responsibilities. The initiative to resume operations was taken after conditions stabilized and the conflict subsided.
“We initiated our operations in El Geneina locality and plan to extend our reach to other localities in the state in the future. The delay is attributed to the lack of transportation means to access the remaining localities,” he explained.
Zakaria highlighted that some individuals from the localities responded to the call, and he directed them to deliver police services to citizens in order to uphold security and stability in the state.
The police officer mentioned that the central authority declined to support the return of police to carry out duties in the state. Consequently, they chose to resume work independently to serve the citizens and maintain security.
Regarding the prevalence of crime, Zakaria stated, “Prior to our intervention, crime was rampant. Since we resumed work, we observed a calming of conditions, a reduction in crime, and a decrease in reported incidents. The presence of our personnel among the citizens has played a role in preventing crimes.”
Zakaria described West Darfur as one of the states most affected by the war, highlighting its devastation and the theft of weapons and police vehicles. He acknowledged the support received from citizens and the Deputy Governor, who provided means and assistance to enable them to fulfill their duties.
Regarding the challenges they encountered, the most significant was the loss of machinery and furniture stolen from the police headquarters and its various units, directly impacting their operations.
“We lost documents, records, books, and files in departments such as passport, civil registry, and traffic. These losses have posed challenges to our work,” revealed Zakaria.
He mentioned having guards to receive individuals sentenced by the local court, which issues deterrent rulings against criminals. The civil administration plays a supportive role for the police in imposing punishment on criminals.
The police director urged citizens to respect the police to ensure the provision of services and the maintenance of security and stability. He emphasized that security relies on the cooperation of citizens.
He also appealed to citizens to contribute to the eradication of negative phenomena and crime.
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