Militias kidnap Sudan HAC official and 8 others in W Darfur

Pro-government militias kidnapped nine people in a West Darfur camp, including the commissioner of the Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC). The official and another hostage were released and the perpetrators are asking a ransom of 160 million Sudanese pounds (over 36 million USD) for the others. Radio Dabanga was informed the militias invaded camp Murnei on Wednesday wherein they looted several cattle and homes and beat some residents. According to sources the most affected neighborhoods are in the western and southern areas of the camp.Next, they kidnapped nine people including HAC official Adam Ismail and two sheikhs, one of them named Adam Al Fil. The hostages were taken to an area called Sulma, located five kilometers south of the camp, Murnei’s head sheikh told Radio Dabanga.He suggested the kidnapping was to get revenge for the death of one of the militias’ comrade, killed south of the Murnei camp on Tuesday.Two released On Thursday, the commissioner of Kereinik locality visited the captivity in Sulma accompanied by the security services and settled the displaced would pay the total ransom amont.  Following the commissioner’s mediation, the HAC official and Sheikh Adam Al Fil were released. The other seven will be freed after the pay off, as the commissioner agreed.Murnei’s head sheikh disclosed to Radio Dabanga that there is a “growing concentration of gunmen” outside the camp, which is leading to a large displacement of its residents to the site’s central areas.Photo: displaced camp (Radio Dabanga file)