Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha has taken up the governorship of East Darfur State more than a year after refusing the post. He has vowed that security will be his first priority, including a commitment to the agreements signed with the Republic of South Sudan.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj after his swearing-in, he pointed to efforts for the return of peace and stability for the tribes in the border areas, stressing that the top priority in his mandate is security.

“We have made long-term and short-term plans to provide economic and security services for our citizens as well as good neighborly relations not only with the other states but also with the Republic of South Sudan and the border tribes,” he said.

Kasha’s swearing-in follows his appointment by presidential decree a week ago, ending a stand-off within the National Congress Party over the governorship of South Darfur, a position he had held until shortly after the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

The creation of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) in line with that agreement had been a partial concession to the long-held rebel demand for reestablishment of ‘Greater Darfur,’ while the splitting of the region from three into five states in January 2012 allowed the Fur to dominate one (lesser) governorate alongside the chairmanship of the DRA.

Backlash at this reshuffle had come foremost from the Rizeigat, the largest Arab tribe of southern Darfur. With the split of South Darfur State they nominally held two governorships. Nonetheless, tribal leaders slammed the reshuffle as a “conspiracy” orchestrated in Khartoum. Pro-Kasha riots erupted in Nyala the same month, upon the arrival of the governor chosen to replace Kasha.

The President of the Republic, Omar Hassan Al Bashir, had ever since prevailed on Kasha to accept his reassignment from Nyala to Ed Daien. But the latter had resisted the re-shuffle, claiming a legal mandate to continue as South Darfur governor.

In an interview aired Friday, the governor explained the reasons behind his acceptance of his new post after having rejected it before, saying he had “the confidence of the President of the Republic in some repeated (requests).”

“There are no problems as I am still a member of the National Congress and also due to all the social and familial issues, I did not refuse to take the responsibility,” he said, referring to his membership in the Rizeigat tribe that dominates the newly created state. He also pointed to the era as a “sensitive historical stage for building Sudan and consolidation of relations with the neighboring countries.”

Kasha stressed his full commitment to work toward the implementation of the agreements signed with South Sudan, which were endorsed by the countries’ two presidents, to promote stability and peaceful coexistence among the border tribes.

He also denied allegations by the authorities of neighbouring Northern Bahr al Ghazal about the involvement of Sudanese security organs in the recent attack on Kiir Adem in the disputed ‘Mile 14’ border area. He stated that it might have been done by outlaws or individuals who do not want peace and stability in the border.

The governor declared his intentions to implement the agreement signed between the two countries and to seek to provide security in the border areas. He expected the relations between Rizeigat in East Darfur and Dinka Malual in Northern Bahr El Ghazal to improve and assured that they will preserve these relations.

Incidentally, he also referred to the inadequacy of the state’s finances, saying it is unable to bear the costs and responsibilities of the state, but if there is development and political will they will overcome this problem. This remark recalls an earlier dispute with the national finance minister that he had while governor of South Darfur.

File photo (state media)