South Darfur hawkers complain about assaults, robberies

Hawkers at the central market of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, complain about assaults and robberies by militiamen since Tuesday. One of the Nyala market vendors reported to Radio Dabanga that government-backed militiamen have been roaming the streets of Nyala and assaulting and robbing the pedlars continuously since Tuesday. They are believed to be members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, the hawker said. “Those militiamen severely beat anyone whose mobile telephone turns out to be a cheap one. They are searching for Samsung Galaxy smartphones, which cost SDG4,000 ($700) apiece. When they find a cheap mobile, they beat the owner, demanding they pay the price difference with a Galaxy phone. They also rob the citizens of anything they have with them, even sugar, soap, or their clothes.” File photo: A woman rides her donkey in a market in Zalingei, Central Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related:Militiamen storm South Darfur court in Nyala havoc (30 May 2014) Darfur judges’ pay nabbed in heist (29 May 2014) Militiamen steal cars, rob citizens in South Darfur capital (27 May 2014)