Seven dead in Ziyadiya attack on Berti villages in North Darfur

Seven people were killed and others wounded in an attack by paramilitaries of the Border Guards and the Central Reserve Police (locally known as Abu Tira) on six villages in Mellit locality, North Darfur, on Sunday.

Multiple sources reported to Radio Dabanga from the locality that a large group of militiamen, belonging to the Ziyadiya tribe, riding in 17 Land Cruisers, and attacked villages populated by people from the Berti tribe.

“They raided Hillet Abdelrahim, Hillet Hashab, Bambatafei, Sangarei, Abu Jira, and Soug El Khamis, randomly firing around them. Seven villagers were killed, and several others were injured,” one of the sources said.

“The Ziyadiya robbed the villagers of hundreds of livestock, and took them into the direction of El Koma,” he added.

Last February and March, Ziyadiya militias launched several attacks on Berti villages in Mellit locality. 106 villagers were killed.

According to reports from Mellit early April, nearly 50,000 people were affected by the violence, more than 7,400 families were displaced, and at least 190 houses went up in flames.