Nyala locked-down after fighting, looting in South Darfur capital

Fierce fighting has reportedly broken out in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, in an overflow of tension between Sudan’s National Security, contingents of the Central Reserve Forces, known as ‘Abu Tira’ and pro-government militias. According to the latest reports to reach Radio Dabanga, the fighting has thus far claimed the lives of two militia leaders, two staff members of the NGO World Vision, a Major in the Security Services and a four-month-old baby. The streets of downtown Nyala are deserted, shops and offices are closed, and people are staying indoors. The latest fighting comes as Hervé Ladsous, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations is visiting Darfur, where there has been an upsurge of violence this year. Ladsous was in transit through Nyala’s airport early on Thursday on his way to Khartoum at the end of his visit to assess operations of the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (Unamid), said a spokesman for the mission. The violence apparently began on Tuesday afternoon when one of the militia leaders, nicknamed ‘Takrom’, entered the offices of the Security Services. Last year, Dekrom and his followers led a raid on a court where three of his cadres were awaiting sentencing. He sprung them from court and he severely assaulted the judge. Takrom was attempting to secure the release of one of his cadres who was under arrest for car theft. When this failed, he attempted to take a member of the Security Services hostage, however, when other armed security men came to their colleague’s rescue, a gunfight occurred in which Takrom and another militiaman died. On Wednesday evening, a significant contingent of Abu Tira surrounded the living quarters of the Security Services and killed a Major in an exchange of fire. According to an eyewitness, the Security Services began to shoot back: “Until Thursday afternoon, heavy gunfire could be heard all over the city.” On Thursday morning, contingents of Abu Tira entered Majala market, allegedly looting goods and destroying shops. They also reportedly raided the weekly public auto market, stealing at least six motorcycles and several cars. The Nyala South Market also became a battle zone with militiamen looting shops while shooting at people. Grenades National Security deployed “machine guns” in an attempt started to drive-off the Abu Tira who are reportedly launching grenades against military positions, international NGOs, schools and Ministries. A Nyala teacher described the situation in detail to Radio Dabanga: “I have seen explosions in several parts of the city. The compounds of various international NGOs were hit, including World Vision and Oxfam UK,” he says. “I was driving to the Ministry of Education when I saw a National Security vehicle. It was raked with gunfire and had been hit by an explosive. The head of the officer inside was completely destroyed.” The Sudanese Army began intervene on Thursday afternoon in an attempt to force the militia to withdraw to their HQ in Fallujah in East Nyala. According to an AFP report, continuous gunfire could be heard over the telephone as an AFP correspondent spoke with a local resident of Nyala. “The shooting appeared to be coming from the downtown area where the Security Forces HQ is located,” the resident said. Flights suspended In response to the violence in Sudan’s second-largest city, all flights by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) which links Nyala with Khartoum and El Fasher in North Darfur, have been suspended, according to Amor Almagro of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). “The WFP has advised its staff in Nyala to work from home and to avoid moving around the city,” Almagro says. Radio Dabanga will update this breaking news story as reports unfold. News photo: At the Unamid base in Nyala, South Darfur, Hervé Ladsous, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, inspects the damage to a Unamid ambulance that was ambushed on Wednesday near Labado, East Darfur. (Photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: Gunmen enter Nyala court, beat judge and release defendants (10 December 2013)