Darfuri camp sheikh slain while leading posse

The sheikh of Umm Haleeb camp for the displaced in Girayda locality, South Darfur, has died while pursuing armed militiamen who plundered a neighbouring camp. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that a group of around 15 armed “pro-government militiamen” on horses stormed Umm Asal camp in Girayda on Wednesday. They stole 30 cattle and a motorcycle belonging to displaced resident Fawzi Othman. The camp residents say that they informed the police, armed forces, and the locality’s Commissioner, but “got no response”. Sheikh Abkar Yahiya Abdullah of Umm Haleeb camp gathered a group of displaced men together, and they intercepted the thieves in the Jabbour area, about 15 kilometres away. In the ensuing clash, Sheikh Abdullah was killed, along with Ibrahim Abkar of camp Babanusa. Several others were wounded. On Thursday, thousands from Girayda joined the funeral procession, demanding that the Commissioner provide security for the displaced, and Unamid run patrols. In separate incidents, pro-government militiamen in two Land Cruisers, riding camels and horses, intercepted two commercial vehicles on the road from Omdurman to Rimeli, 10 kilometres east of Girayda, sources told Radio Dabanga.The vehicles were ransacked and all good were looted, including 200 sacks of sugar from each. Mohamed Yaquob Adam and Musa Adam Azeiriq were injured. File photo Related: ‘Repeated militia attacks’ on Girayda camps, South Darfur (2 June 2013)