‘Abbala militias rob army guarded convoy’ in North Darfur

A commercial convoy of four trucks headed to Al Sareif Beni Hussein city in North Darfur was “intercepted and robbed by Abbala militias” last Saturday. The convoy, coming from Saraf Omra, was guarded by members of the army “who did not confront the insurgents”.Speaking to Radio Dabanga, one of the passengers said the Abbala militants were driving six Land Cruisers mounted with Dushkas and intercepted the commercial convoy “in front of the Unamid gate” two kilometres north of Saraf Omra.“The militias fired heavily in the air with their Duskhas and took the four trucks to a Saraf Omra garrison where they stole all goods being transported, including sugar, oil, clothing. The owner of each truck must pay SDG1,000 ($176) to be released,” he said.Members of the Sudanese army who were driving six vehicles guarding the convoy did not react and continued to Al Sareif Beni Hussein, the source pointed out.The omda of Al Sareif Beni Hussein, Omar Abdullah Al Nour, confirmed the source’s reports to Radio Dabanga. “Pro-government militias continue blocking roads connecting Al Sareif locality to Saraf Omra and Kabkabiya. 100 percent of the siege imposed on Al Sareif is blocking access to goods.”Al Nour criticized the state government for not opening the roads and for not breaking the siege “imposed by pro-government militias on the locality.”The Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes fought violently earlier this year over control of the Jebel ‘Amer gold mine in Al Sareif Beni Hussein locality, leaving about 500 people dead. The UN estimates that more than 100,000 people were displaced. Violence has subsequently flared-up sporadically between the tribes, disrupting social and commercial life in the area.File photoRelated: Most schools still closed following North Darfur tribal violence (7 July 2013)