Nine dead in militia attack on North Darfur village

In an attack by a joint force of paramilitary Border Guards and Central Reserve Police (Abu Tira) on Maksi village in Mellit locality, on Tuesday, nine people were killed.

“A large group of Border Guard and Abu Tira troops in 24 Land Cruisers, mounted with Dushka machineguns raided the village. They plundered the shops, and torched a number of houses. Nine people were killed, including a woman,” a villager who fled reported to Radio Dabanga.

He said that Maksi village was attacked before, on 27 February, whereby four people were killed, and four others were injured. The paramilitary forces seized ten villagers, accusing them of being rebels and took them to El Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur. They were later released, after having been severely beaten and tortured.

Commissioner of Mellit locality, Kamal Yahya, told the press that the attack was triggered by a conflict between Berti and Ziyadiya militant tribesmen.

“After Berti breached a truce, members of the Ziyadiya launched an attack on Maksi, that is inhabited by Berti. Eight villagers were killed and wounded.”

According to Mohamed Ahmed Jizo, Commissioner of neighbouring El Kuma locality, two Ziyadiya tribesmen were killed, and two others were wounded.