French NGO expelled from Darfur
A French non-governmental organisation has been expelled from south Darfur for allegedly cooperating with one of the region’s rebel groups. The state’s governor on Monday accused Medecins du Monde of supporting Abdelwahid Nur's faction of the Sudan Liberation Army.
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South Darfur’s Governor Abdelhamid Kasha said there is proof that the NGO helped the rebel group.
Medecins du Monde has not commented on the accusations.
Nur's faction of the SLA is one of three main rebel groups fighting government troops in Darfur, along with Minni Minnawi's branch and the Justice and Equality Movement.
Medecins du Monde provides primary health care, nutrition and health education in the east Jebel Marra area of Darfur, Sudan's war-torn western region.
Several staff members were arrested in Darfur on Thursday, according to the UN. Most were later released, though two Sudanese are still believed to be missing.
The Catholic Relief Services operating in West Darfur was forced to suspend its operations two weeks ago.
The UN Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan said that six other NGOs have stopped their work in Darfur in the past year, some because of lack of funds, others because of the increasingly difficult operating environment.
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