Militia ‘siege’ of Mukjar in Central Darfur delays harvest

Militiamen reportedly launched an attack at the southern gate of Mukjar town in Central Darfur in an attempt to control it. After a fire fight with police forces, the militiamen had to retreat. Witnesses in Mukjar told Radio Dabanga that militiamen attacked the gate on Tuesday morning. Police forces defended the gate, leading to an exchange of fire for about an hour. Various kinds of weapons were used, sparking panic and horror among the population of the town, they said. The witnesses commented that “the vigilance of the police forced the militiamen to flee”. The witnesses described the situation around Mukjar like “a siege by nearly 200 armed militiamen, which makes it almost impossible for the farmers to harvest their crops”. According to the witnesses the militiamen twice attempted to rape women farmers on Monday. The first rape attempt took place in the area of Nerli, north of Mukjar, at a distance of 4km from a Unamid post, and the second one on the road to Korofata, during which a woman suffered a broken hand. The militias also allegedly assaulted farmers west of Mukjar. In the area of Bergi, 5km from the Unamid post, they robbed Adam Eisa Adam of 30 sheep. The farmers of Mukjar appealed to the government of Central Darfur and Unamid to intensify their patrols so that they can move to their farmlands and harvest. They fear that if the current situation continues, harvesting will be impossible. File photo Related: Six women, including three minors, raped in two Darfur states (13 October 2013) Sheikh slain in widespread militia raids in South Darfur (11 October 2013)