Fear among South Darfur displaced as Rapid Support Forces arrive

The residents of the camps for the displaced in South Darfur have expressed their great fear of new and increased attacks by the so-called Rapid Support Forces, locally known as Janjaweed militias, under the command of Hemeti. A large group of the forces arrived on Sunday at Bielel locality in South Darfur. The Secretary-General of the Kalma camp for the displaced in Bielel locality, Dr Salih Eisa, told Radio Dabanga that large numbers of Rapid Support Forces arrived in Bielel locality on Sunday evening. The gunmen, in 400 Land Cruisers mounted with Dushka machineguns and loaded with various types of light and heavy weapons, settled in the areas of Um Kurdus and Marla. Eisa noted that a large group of Rapid Support Forces in approximately 100 Land Cruisers arrived two weeks ago to the region. Since then, he said, the displaced in the South Darfur camps are living in intense fear. These militiamen have already assaulted many displaced and threatened to enter the camps. Adam Salih Abakar, the military spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), told Radio Dabanga that the information received indicates the arrival of the vanguard of “Hemeti’s government-backed militias expelled from Kordofan” to the military areas of Tor Ta’aan and Beilel. He stressed that the SLM-MM has warned the militias that it will not stand idle when they attack citizens or their property in Darfur. Radio Dabanga reported in December last year that Border Guards Commander, Mohamed Hamdan, better known as Hemeti, recruited large numbers of Darfuris to be trained as Rapid Support Forces, in order to fight along with the Sudanese army in South Kordofan. Large numbers of these militiamen were stationed in the area near El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. After fierce protests of the population against their assaults, they were expelled from North Kordofan mid February. They reportedly went to North and South Darfur. File photo: Commander Mohamed Hamdan, ‘Hemeti’ Related: Militias expelled from North Kordofan arrive in South Darfur (18 February 2014) $3 million for withdrawal of North Kordofan’s Janjaweed (14 February 2014) Janjaweed ‘causing chaos’ in North Kordofan capital (7 February 2014) Protest in El Obeid against abuses by Darfur militias (3 February 2014) Civilians, army clash with militia in South Kordofan (24 December 2013)