State of Emergency announced in North Darfur’s Kutum
A source informed Radio Dabanga that on Wednesday, 5 September, the government of North Darfur announced a state of emergency in Kutum and El-Waha localities. He added that Brigadier Mohammad Kamal Mohamed Nur was appointed to monitor and administer both localities. According to the source, this move from the government of North Darfur is an attempt to keep control of the area due to the recent violent events. He said Brigadier Nur is the commanding officer of Brigade 22, the brigade responsible for protecting the region. Police headquarters burned Several sources informed Radio Dabanga that Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira) burned the police headquarters of Kutum town on Wednesday morning. They said Abu Tira forces also stole weapons and seized two vehicles. So far, there are no reports of injuries. Eye witnesses said that because of the fire, the police was forced to withdraw to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) headquarters Brigade 22, located in Kutum. They added all of the police’s documents got burned during the attack. Radio Dabanga was told that witnesses believe the fire was a retaliation for the killing of three border guards by the Kutum police on Tuesday, 4 September. Ghost town Kutum residents told Radio Dabanga that the city has transformed into a ghost town since the new wave of violence. They said they do not dare leaving their homes and that there are many military vehicles in the streets of Kutum. Witnesses also reported seeing two Antonov airplanes flying low over Kutum for about two hours on Wednesday. In addition, citizens said that markets, shops, bakeries, schools, government institutions, water services and grain mills are currently shut down. They reported that residents who own cars have packed their bags and began traveling towards El-Fasher for safety. Witnesses said the SAF established a curfew in the city. An activist from Kutum locality asked via Radio Dabanga where the Sudanese government is and why it is not protecting the people. He calls on the disarmament of border guards and Abu Tira forces, who he says are responsible for the violence in Kutum. The activist requests that the Sudanese government protects everyone equally, without discrimination.
On Wednesday, 5 September, the government of North Darfur announced the State of Emergency in Kutum and El Waha.
The decision of the North Darfur goverment wants to improve its control over the area after the many violent incidents that happened recently, a listener informed Radio Dabanga.
Brigadier Mohamed Kamal, the commanding officer of Sudan Armed Forces Brigade 22, responsible for protecting the region, has been tasked with monitoring and administering Kutum and El Waha localities.
Torched
Several witnesses informed Radio Dabanga that paramilitaryCentral Reserve Police (Abu Tira) burned the police headquarters of Kutum town on Wednesday morning. They said the militiamen also stole weapons and two vehicles. So far, there have been no reports of injuries.
The police was forced to withdraw to the base of the Brigade 22 in Kutum. All of the police's documents were burned.
The sources claim the fire was a retaliation for the killing of three members of the Border Guards government militia by the Kutum police on Tuesday, 4 September.
Ghost town
Kutum has transformed into a ghost town, they said. The people do not dare leaving their homes as there are only military vehicles on the streets.
They also reported seeing two Antonov airplanes flying low over Kutum for about two hours on Wednesday.
Markets, shops, bakeries, schools, government institutions, water services and grain mills are closed. The army imposed a curfew in the town. Residents of Kutum who have a vehicle at their disposal have begun packing their bags in order to move to El Fasher for safety.
An activist in Kutum locality called for the disarmament of the many militiamen in the region, as they are responsible for the violence in Kutum. The Sudanese government should protect all the people equally, without discrimination, he said.
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