Drivers held at militia homes in Kabkabiya, North Darfur

A number of drivers of the lorries intercepted at a militia ‘toll gate’ near Kabkabiya in North Darfur earlier this week, are being held at the homes of militiamen.

On Sunday, 11 lorries were stopped at the ‘toll gate’ near Ed El Nabag, 13 kilometres east of Kabkabiya. The drivers were each ordered to pay fees of SDG10,000 ($1,640).

Sudan Jameel, a commander of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan that signed the Doha peace agreement with the government in April 2013, told Radio Dabanga that the next day two more lorries were held.

“The drivers refused to pay the fees, after which the militiamen detained nine of the drivers in their homes in Kabkabiya town.

“The detention is a gross violation of the Constitution, as they are neither held at a police station, nor at a military base,” the commander commented.

He said that he had contacted relatives of the militia members and demanded the release of the drivers, “as their detention could lead to tribal conflicts in the area”.

Jameel pointed out that the kidnappers are members of the paramilitary Border Guards. “The militiamen as well as the drivers are from the area, and well-known to all.”

He called on the North Darfur authorities to “take strong measures to put an end to this mess”.