Darfur judges’ pay nabbed in heist

In a daring daylight raid that witnesses say lasted only two minutes, gunmen made off with a SDG2.2 million ($386,000) payroll in Nyala on Thursday. The cash, destined to pay the salaries of judges and staff of the judicial authority, was being transferred from the Bank of Sudan to the headquarters of the judicial authority in the centre of the South Darfur capital. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that three gunmen wearing military uniforms driving a Land Cruiser stopped the vehicle carrying the cash near Nyala Mars. “One of the gunmen got out of the Land Cruiser and took the judicial salary. He then then boarded their vehicle and fled. Citizens have reacted angrily to news of the raid, which comes in the wake of two days of looting and chaos by militiamen in the city. “Nyala is at the mercy of the militiamen, and if the state does not intervene quickly, it will be a disaster.” Nyala police have received dozens of complaints of militiamen stealing vehicles and goods on the Nyala airport road and the road to El Fasher, blocked by elements of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. By Tuesday, five vehicles, eight rickshaws, and more than 500 mobile phones have been looted, in addition to cash and other valuables. File photo Related Militiamen steal cars, rob citizens in South Darfur capital (26 May 2014) Militia blocks Nyala airport road in South Darfur (26 May 2014)