Militiamen storm South Darfur court in Nyala havoc

Government-backed militiamen stormed the headquarters of a court in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, on Thursday, with the purpose of forcibly releasing a person accused of murder in trial. The gunmen exchanged fire with the police in the court before the latter arrested at least two of the attackers. The rest escaped. The judges of Nyala District Court in South Darfur have stopped working in protest against the militants’ repeated storming of courts, and the inability of the responsible authorities to provide the necessary protection to the city courts. Witnesses said that the court judges in Nyala declared solidarity with their colleagues on Thursday, and decided to take a stand within the next 24 hours. Pro-government militiamen stormed one of the courts in Nyala last year, released an accused, and beat the court judge in the broad daylight. The attack on the court comes in the wake of the looting and chaos by militiamen in Nyala since Sunday. The police have received dozens of complaints of militiamen stealing vehicles and goods on the Nyala airport road and the road to El Fasher, blocked by elements of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. By Tuesday, five vehicles, eight rickshaws, and more than 500 mobile phones have been looted, in addition to cash and other valuables. File photo Related: Darfur judges’ pay nabbed in heist (29 May 2014) Militiamen steal cars, rob citizens in South Darfur capital (27 May 2014)