Kassab and Fatta Barno victims: authorities’ bureaucracy

Victims of the recent attacks on the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps of Kassab and Fatta Barno and residents of the affected Kutum town, North Darfur, deny being officially notified by authorities to file complaints related to the fightings. Citizens told Radio Dabanga they only heard about it through the media. The people affected by the fightings in North Darfur had their money, shops and property looted by Abutirah forces (Sudanese Central Reserve Forces) and by pro-government militia. El Fateh Abdel Aziz Abdel Nabi is the Head of the Ministry Committee responsible for monitoring and resolving the situation around Kutum. He announced last week that the Committee’s doors in Kutum are open to citizens for inquiries and complaints related to the attacks. Nabi is also the Sudanese Minister of Urban Planning and Deputy Governor of North Darfur. A victim of the attacks informed Radio Dabanga that he went to the Committee office after hearing on the media that authorities opened their doors to receive complaints. He said, however, that the police asked him to file a complaint to the prosecutor before he could return to the Committee’s office. The victim affirms that after following the whole procedure he was still asked about details on his list, including who stole his money and looted his property and how it happened. He also said the police lieutenant who recorded his statements expressed doubt about the size and amount of the looted properties and asked him to identify the perpetrators. The witness explained that he fears this approach, which he described as complex and unproductive, may prevent other victims from filing complaints. He demands authorities to simplify the procedures by canceling the complaints’ files and to open offices close to the affected areas. He also asks that different stakeholders be involved in the process, including the prosecutor and the police.