Raids on N. Darfur road ‘halting traffic flow, rising prices’

Raids carried out by pro-government militias on the road connecting El-Fasher and Tawila in North Darfur is putting the traffic flow and the movements of citizens at a complete halt, residents claim. Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Wednesday, they added the attacks are causing a sharp rise in food and commodities prices. According to an inhabitant of Tawila, the price of a can of cooking oil boosted from 200 to 300 Sudanese pounds and a sac of sugar from 320 to 350. In addition, transportation costs between El-Fasher and Tawila rose from 10 to 50 pounds. He asserted that all movement on the road “completely stopped one week ago”. Citizens are demanding that Tawila’s commissioner provides them protection and ensures that traffic can be resumed. However, the commissioner responded that civilians should be the ones recruiting protection for themselves and for commercial convoys. Residents are accusing a pro-government militia headed by “historical leader Osman Mohamed Ibrahim” of terrorizing them in their homes, on the streets and on the El-Fasher –Tawila road.   Militia leader Ibrahim has reportedly signed an internal peace agreement with the government of North Darfur last year. Last Sunday, the same pro-government militia led by Ibrahim beat and looted a group of eighteen passengers at the Les Kineh area in Tawila locality. Eight of the passengers suffered severe head injuries. Testimonies suggest the gunmen have been stationed on the area for three months.Radio Dabanga file photoRelated: Gunmen beat and loot 18 passengers by N. Darfur road (27 January 2013)