SAF limits movement in South Darfur camp after army-militia clashes

The leaders of the Sudanese army stationed at Jebel Kishlingo, 1.5km south of the El Salam camp for the displaced in Nyala, South Darfur, ordered the residents not to move in and out of the camp, following clashes between army forces and militiamen on Tuesday and last Friday. “The camp is an emergency case. Moving in and out the camp will enforce an activity against the residents, under the claim that they are opposed to the Sudanese government and are harbouring violators of the law”, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) stated, according to leaders in the camp.Sheikh Mahjoub Tabaldiya of El Salam camp revealed to Radio Dabanga that a meeting on Wednesday with the army’s leadership and a humanitarian aid commissioner dealt with the security and intimidation topics. “We decided to open the camp’s market on Thursday, and extend security in- and outside the camp”, Tabaldiya disclosed.Violence caused by militiamenThe situation in the El Salam camp is tense since a number of people in the market were injured in an attack by elements of the SAF on Tuesday afternoon. On January 10, clashes between the SAF and militiamen killed four army troops and at least two camp residents, and wounded a large number of people. One of the leaders of the camp told Radio Dabanga that the residents are now living “in a severe state of panic and horror” because of violations committed by government-backed militiamen. He named shelling, beating, looting and rape against the displaced among the violations, along with an aerial bombardment at a 10km distance from the camp. Additionally, the meeting discussed the organisations working in the field of water, health and food which have stopped working as the security deteriorated.File photo: Sudanese army (Unamid)Related:Violence in South Darfur camp continues after army-militia clash (14 January 2014)Sudanese Air Force bombs South Darfur towns (14 January 2014)Two children injured in South Darfur air raid (7 January 2014)