Refugees capture Abu Tira soldier

He was allegedly armed and prepared to loot civilian property in Asalaam refugee camp

Refugees in El Fasher’s Asalaam refugee camp captured an Abu Tira (central reserve force) soldier, who was allegedly about to loot their property, on Tuesday.One of the witnesses told Radio Dabanga that two armed Abu Tira soldiers had entered the refugee camp on Tuesday intending to loot some homes. However, when the soldiers entered the house of a refugee named Mustafa, they were met with resistance.

“Mustafa and his wife captured one of the soldiers, while the other ran away still firing his gun in the air,” the witness said.

The captured Abu Tira soldier remained in custody of the refugees until next morning. He was reportedly hand-cuffed and beaten by camp residents. On Wednesday police forces came to rescue the soldier and took him away.

Refugees complain of firing and looting in the camp on a daily basis. They say, complaining about excesses committed by Abu Tira forces to the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) bears no results.

“The UNAMID asks us to go to the police to lodge complaints. But complaining to the police is of no use because they aren’t going to do anything about the Abu Tira excesses,” a civilian told Radio Dabanga.

He stressed that the UNAMID’s mandate was to protect civilians, and that it should carry out its responsibility. He also demanded that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should intervene in the proceedings for the benefit of the refugees.