Western reports accuse Rapid Support Forces of involvement in smuggling gold to Russia
Khartoum: Al-Taghyeer
The Displaced Persons and Refugees General Coordination on Saturday accused the Rapid Support Forces and the Russian mercenary group Wagner of involvement in gold prospecting activities in areas hosting internally displaced persons in Darfur.
The latest government statistics (2018) put the number of the displaced persons in Darfur region to 1.9 million distributed in dozens of camps.
The Coordination’s official spokesman Adam Rijal said in statement that the Rapid Support militias in collaboration with its economic section (Al-Jinaid Company) and the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, are carrying out prospecting activities in areas deserted by their inhabitants because of the war.
He said activities of these groups are increasing particularly in the places of the people who fled to Tour Kulmi camp in Zalengi, Central Darfur State.
Rijal has described these activities as theft and demeaning insult unacceptable after the Sudan’s revolution of awareness and change.
Most of Darfur’s camps have been established during the era of the deposed President Omer Al-Bashir particularly in the period 2003-2008. Rates of violence and fleeing to camps have increased since signing of peace agreement with the Revolutionary Front two years ago.
The Rapid Support Forces used to deny any link with Wagner and reject accusations of committing violations.
