Livestock, mobile phones stolen in ‘series of militia attacks’ in Darfur

The newly displaced people of Attash camp near Nyala in South Darfur have been subject to “a series of attacks by pro-government militias between Thursday and Saturday this week. A sheikh of the camp told Radio Dabanga that the attacks have been carried out at night by militiamen dressed in the uniforms of the Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira). Abdul Naim Adam Mohamed was seriously injured when he was shot in the chest in one attack in which the militiamen allegedly stole 26 mobile phones, and 17 sheep and eight donkeys. Mohamed was transferred to Nyala hospital for treatment. The sheikh said that on Thursday evening, the same militiamen stole 11 mobile phones and five donkeys. The police at the camp sent the displaced to report the incidents to the Nyala North police station, noting that “the security situation at the camp is deteriorating, especially with regard to the new arrivals”. Three displaced women from Kassab camp in Kutum locality in North Darfur were allegedly severely beaten and subjected to attempted rape on Saturday by pro-government militiamen. A sheikh of Kassab camp informed Radio Dabanga that the women were attacked on their way to tend their farms nearby. “Two donkeys were stolen, and two of the women were severely whipped. The militiamen attempted to rape a third woman, but she managed to escape,” the sheikh said. He lamented the ongoing risk of assault, rape and death that displaced people must run in order to practice agriculture. “Just on Saturday, militiamen again raided the camp after first firing into the air to intimidate the displaced,” the sheikh said. He appealed to the international community to pressurise Unamid to provide the displaced with protection. File photo: ‘Abu Tira’ troops Related: Displaced farmers attacked and injured by ‘militiamen’ in Central Darfur (23 June 2013) ‘Militia and herders’ beat Darfuri women for farming land (21 June 2013)