North Darfur Governor brokers agreement to protect villages

Following complaints from the leaders and citizens of rural areas in El Fasher and Tawila localities last week, the Governor of North Darfur, Osman Kibir, has acknowledged the occurrence of the burning and looting of villages. Governor Kibir confirmed that after one meeting with the Arab tribes in El Fasher and another in Kutum with the Commissioner of Alwaha locality as well as 13 tribal leaders, a written agreement was reached. They pledge that they will not attack or burn houses or villages anymore. They also apologise for what happened. The citizens and leaders revealed to the Governor this week that the burning of their villages and looting their property was done by pro-government militias, (popularly known in the area as Janjaweed) militias on camels, horses and cars. They said that the burning and looting of those villages happened only after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia of had passed through. They demanded security, relief and support for those affected. File photo: A burning house in Darfur (bashirwatch.org) Related: More attacks in Tawila and El Fasher, North Darfur (8 April 2014)More South Darfur villages plundered by Sudan’s militias (4 April 2014)‘Ethnic cleansing behind attacks on Darfur villages’: JEM (3 April 2014)North Darfur State convenes emergency meeting (1 April 2014)