The civil authorities in Sudan’s South Darfur State have launched a civilian protection force tasked with securing and ensuring the safety of civilians across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the initiative in Nyala on Tuesday, the head of the civilian government of South Darfur State, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hassan, said the establishment of the Civilian Protection Forces in the states under the control of the Rapid Support Forces came under the direction, funding, and supervision of the RSF Commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo also known as Hemedti.
“From today onwards, the security of our citizens is under your full responsibility,” he declared. “And from today onwards, no security checkpoint is allowed to collect any fees from citizens.”
Al-Hassan directed the forces to deal directly with the outlaws who threaten citizens with the aim of stealing and to prevent the movement of motorcycles inside the city of Nyala. He also highlighted that security forces are not allowed to extort money from citizens.
For his part, the state’s director of police, Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Raziq Al-Obaid, said the Civilian Protection Forces are noncombatant and will fight outlaws and the “weak-willed and will start their work immediately.”