Merchant abducted by militia near Nyala, South Darfur

A commodity dealer from Nyala market in South Darfur was reportedly abducted on Tuesday evening by pro-government militiamen driving a Land Cruiser. Six militia members intercepted car in which trader Issa Adam Abdul Rasul, his son Youssef Issa Adam Abdul Rasul, and two others were travelling, close to the Roads and Bridges Foundation in Nyala. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, his son Youssef said that both he and his father were initially abducted, but that he was released later in the neighbourhood of the Speciality Hospital. Youssef said that his father has still not been released, but that a complaint about the incident has been filed at the police station in north Nyala.This incident further highlights an increasing hazard for business people and traders in Nyala, which is prompting some to demand armed bodyguards or to relocate their businesses to Khartoum.Darkness The city of Nyala itself has had to endure darkness due to interruptions to the electricity and water supply. Fuel prices have also soared. A gallon of petrol now costs SDG70, and diesel is sold on the black market for SDG30. Sources in Nyala told Radio Dabanga that only two of the 20 filling stations are still operating, which has also let to a marked increase in transportation costs. The pricess of goods and food in the city have also climbed, with a sack of sugar fetching SDG360, a pound if dates SDG12, a mulwah of corn SDG14 and a sack of charcoal SDG75. Traders speaking to Radio Dabanga attributed the rise in prices to the poor security situation in the state. “Trade convoys and trains are still delayed in Kordofan and the guarded transports in Ed Daein,” they said. An AFP correspondent has reported seeing elements of Khartoum’s elite ‘Nukhba’ forces spreading through Nyala, and said he saw at least 12 cars equipped with machine guns belonging Nukhba forces on the road between the airport and the city of Nyala.The capital of South Darfur has been experiencing days of unrest following what began as a shooting incident between Sudan’s National Security, contingents of the Central Reserve Forces, known as ‘Abu Tira’, and pro-government militias. Two employees of the NGO World Vision were killed.Violence in Nyala flared-up just as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous was in transit at the city’s airport as part of a three-day visit to Sudan. As a result of unrests, the Governor of South Darfur has imposed strict security measures in the city. File photo Related:World Vision, NGOs ‘assessing security’ before resuming South Darfur ops (12 July 2013)Darfur militias now ‘a state within a state’: lawyer (10 July 2013) ‘Violence in Darfur threatens to undermine security in province’: Sese (10 July 2013)Businessman and his brother kidnapped in Ed Daein, East Darfur (13 June 2013)