Militia attack shuts-down shops in North Darfur camp

Shops in Tawila, North Darfur, shut their doors from Friday to Tuesday, after an attack by militiamen on Thursday evening. A sheikh of the Rwanda camp of the displaced in Tawila reported to Radio Dabanga that at about 9pm Janjaweed attacked the camp’s Television Club to rob the people. During the ensuing clash, one of the militiamen was killed. In response, the militiamen attacked Tawila on Saturday. A group arrived in three Land Cruisers mounted with Dushka machineguns, others on camels and horses. The sheikh said that “government forces” confronted the attackers and drove them out of the town. According to the camp sheikh, the situation in the area has become very tense. The population is terrified. Many people did not dare to leave their homes on Tuesday, because the militiamen have threatened to burn and loot the Rwanda camp market if the displaced do not pay blood money for the killed militiaman. The camp residents have three days to pay the blood money. Else, the sheikh said, the militiamen threatened to repeat “the Tabara massacre of 2010”. Radio Dabanga reported in September 2010 about an attack by Janjaweed on the market of Tabara, not far from Tawila town. Approximately 60 people died when the gunmen opened fire on citizens in or around Tabara on 2 and 3 September. Some of the victims were forced to lie down to be shot in the head at point blank range. Others were tied behind vehicles and dragged to death, according to witness accounts. File photo Related: Gunmen on camels attack Tawila in Central Darfur; 28 casualties (2 November 2010) N. Darfur governor pledges justice for perpetrators of Tabara massacre (14 September 2010) Sudan justice minister sends investigation team to Tabara massacre site (24 September 2010)