South Kordofan insecurity continues

The Sudanese Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO) published information on more recent killings in South Kordofan's Nuba Mountains region, whilst Nuba residents fear that the area will become a ‘second Darfur’. No actions have been taken by police.

On January 10, a group of 15 armed men wearing uniforms of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) riding on motorcycles and invaded the Zalat-Magdoud gold mine market, located about 20 kilometres south-west of Abu Jubeiha town.

They harassed and robbed customers at the market and looted shops (goods) at gun point. The case was reported to Abu Jubeiha police but the they did not respond according to HUDO.

On January 15, Abdelbagi Ali (53) was found dead by his sons at his farm in Um Deheileeb village near Kologi in the the Nuba Mountains. His head showed several gunshot wounds.

There were also footsteps of the assailants at the crime scene. The case was reported to the police of Kologi by his family but, again, no investigations were carried out. The police did not even visit the crime scene.

On January 24, farmer Mohamed Sayed was found dead by his family and fellow farmers at his farm in Aried village, about 45 kilometres south of Abu Jubeiha. His body had gunshot wounds in different places and a cut on the neck. Footsteps found at the crime scene indicated the assailants went in a Western direction.

The community members took Sayed’s dead body to Abu Jubeiha Hospital for an autopsy and buried it afterwards.

As with the other cases, the murder case was reported by his family members to Abu Jubeiha police, but no investigations were carried out. Again, the police did not even visit the crime scene.

Since November 2021, the insecurity in Dalami area has been on the increase as well, HUDO reported. Farmers have been targeted the most, and many lives have been lost, the centre explained.

Most of the murder and attacks on farmers have been reported. In three consecutive days only, the following were reported:

On January 13, policeman Abdelrahman Habib (37) was severely injured on his back as he was shot by unknown armed. The assailants shot at him as he searched for lost cattle together with other three people near El Sereif village, six kilometres southeast of Dalami town.

He received medical treatment at the Dalami Hospital.

On January 14, farmer Ahmed Osman (30) was shot by an unknown gunman at Marjojo village, five kilometres west of Dalami town. He had just come from his farm. The shooting caused minor injuries and he was treated at the Dalami Hospital.

On January 15, Salah Ismail (40) was shot dead by unknown armed people at his farm in Tabaldiya, an agricultural area north of Dalami town. He was shot in the head while he was harvesting.

All these cases were reported to Dalami police, but to residents’ frustration no investigations were carried out.

Last week, Radio Dabanga already reported that a farmer and a guard were killed in two separate incidents in South Kordofan’s Nuba Mountains. Others were injured in different attacks.

Earlier in January, two farmers were killed in separate incidents in Abu Jubeiha.

A second Darfur

Nuba residents fear that South Kordofan’s Nuba Mountains will become a ‘second Darfur’ as farmers continue to face attacks by militant herders.

“In most cases, the government authorities are unable to arrest the perpetrators”, a source told Radio Dabanga. “The eastern localities seem to remain forgotten, and are neglected by the media.

“The regular plundering of weekly markets and attacks on traders is becoming a threat to commercial activities”, he added. “Many Nuba fear that South Kordofan will become a second Darfur”.

In Darfur, a genocide has taken place against indigenous farmers by militant Arab herders supported by the regime of ousted dictator Omar Al Bashir. As Janjaweed militias, they killed many African farmers. In recent years, attacks by herdsmen against Darfur’s farmers and non-Arab herding groups have continued, resulting in many deaths.