Refugees in Chad Bear the Cost of War Twice
Report by Mashaer Idris
The city of Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, continues to suffer from ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which have taken on a tribal character and led to the deaths of thousands, with hundreds of thousands fleeing to neighboring Chad.
Sultan Saad Bahar El-Din, the leader of the Masalit tribe in West Darfur State, stated that the issue in Geneina is not tribal but an assault by the Rapid Support Forces against all the citys components, especially the Masalit.
The Sultan explained that the events in Geneina are a political struggle, and the Rapid Support Forces plan to seize the region, as West Darfur is strategically important to them, serving as a launching point for their forces from the area connected to Chad, Central Africa, and Libya.
West Darfur represents a strategic depth for the Rapid Support Forces, both in terms of security and the economy due to the presence of gold and uranium, he added.
Regarding Sudanese refugees in the cities of Adre and Abeche in Chad, the Masalit leader stated that they are suffering from harsh humanitarian conditions and called on countries and communities to provide assistance.
The Masalit is an ethnic group residing in the Darfur region of western Sudan and the Wadi region in eastern Chad. The Masalit tribe has its historical heritage, cultural, and social legacy, along with its distinctive African language known for its unique tones.
Sudanese lawyer Moaz Hadrat confirmed the presence of penalties in Sudanese criminal law and the International Criminal Court for the forced displacement of civilian citizens, as it constitutes a war crime.
Hadrat added that Sudanese criminal law contains a large number of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
He pointed out that forced displacement falls under Article 186 of Sudanese criminal law, which pertains to crimes against humanity.
He emphasized that the International Criminal Court prohibits such crimes, and the Geneva Conventions consider such behavior an attack against civilians, which includes evicting them from their homes and harming them.
Hassan Ahmed, using an alias due to the sensitivity of his situation, fled Geneina to Chad due to the dire living conditions in Adre camps. He stated that conditions are severe in the camp, where some families lack shelter and others lack food, while the health situation, both in terms of prevention and treatment, poses a life-threatening threat.
He also noted the threats faced by the refugees, especially since Adre is located near the Sudanese border, and elements of the Rapid Support Forces often enter it.
Adre is the principal town of the Assongha district in the Wadi region of Chad. It is located near the eastern border of Chad with Sudan, about 400 meters away.
During a visit to the Adre camp, Mohamed Abdullah Al-Douma, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Darfur Lawyers Association, revealed that more than 185,000 refugees from West Darfur State have arrived in the Chadian city of Adre, according to official authorities. Moreover, there is a daily influx of refugees at a rate of two thousand.
He also disclosed the presence of other refugees in the Kouz Beida area, which is located south of Adre, and accommodates those fleeing from South Geneina, in addition to those coming from Central Darfur State.
Al-Douma spoke of serious threats not only to the Masalit tribe, which has a significant presence but also to other groups in the region.
He pointed out that the refugees face problems, including many not receiving their share of food despite more than a month passing, resulting in cases of malnutrition, especially among children.
He said that the Rapid Support Forces have captured 47 people from the residents of Geneina, with 7 of them killed in the offices of the Rapid Support Forces, while 40 others remain in detention.
He explained that reliable sources informed him that more than two thousand people are missing, most of whom disappeared while fleeing from Geneina to Adre, and it is expected that they may fall into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces.
Al-Douma stated that some refugees reported seeing groups of the Rapid Support Forces who committed crimes in Geneina wandering around the market in Adre.
He also noted that the Chadian authorities anticipated this by moving the refugees about 30 kilometers away from the Sudanese border.
Since April 23, there have been ongoing violent clashes, likely ethnically motivated, in West Darfur State, resulting from battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. This led to armed militias taking control of the states capital, Geneina.
