North Darfur traders, hauliers strike over ‘tolls’

Traders and hauliers in Kabkabiya in North Darfur went on strike and closed the market on Wednesday, in protest against exorbitant ‘tolls’ imposed by militiamen on the main highway from El Fasher.

One of the hauliers told Radio Dabanga that the Chamber of Commerce of Kabkabiya decided to embark on an open-ended strike, which they will only lift once they are provided with protection, and the militia ‘toll gates’ are removed.

He said that militiamen have established five ‘toll gates’ on the road between Kabkabiya and the capital of El Fasher, which is a vital logistical artery. The militiamen charge SDG3,000 ($490) for each vehicle, in addition to the fees paid to the convoy.

He said that in the Ed Elnabag area on Monday, militiamen seized 16 commercial vehicles on their way from El Fasher to Kabkabiya and only released them on Wednesday morning after the vehicle owners paid SDG9,000 ($1,470).

After a meeting with the owners of commercial vehicles, the Chamber of Commerce decided to hand a memorandum to the locality headquarters for the North Darfur Governor.

Displaced

The displaced people of camp Sortony, southeast of Kabkabiya, have complained about the deterioration of the humanitarian and health situation in the camp. They complain that the roads between Kabkabiya and Sortony have been closed for four months.

One of the camp Sheikhs anticipated a worsening of the humanitarian situation: “The displaced are unable to cultivate their lands during this agricultural season as a result of the blockade imposed on the camp by armed militias.”

The Sheikh appealed to the humanitarian organisations to resume distribution of food rations to the displaced.