‘State of Emergency violators to court next week’: North Darfur Governor

A special court in El Fasher will look into the violations of the State of Emergency issued by the North Darfur government last October. Security campaigns to control all violations will continue. The acting North Darfur Governor, Adam Mohamed Hamid El Nahla, on Thursday said the special court starts working early next week. He reiterated his the state’s determination to “extend the prestige of the state and the rule of law, to achieve security and stability, and to deter whoever is trespassing”. El Nahla said that the campaign of vehicle inspections, which began on Friday in North Darfur’s capital, will continue, along with the implementation of other measures. Since October, it is strictly forbidden for civilians in North Darfur to carry arms, or to fire into the air during weddings and other festivities without a permit. The kadamool (a turban veil covering most of the face) is banned in towns, markets, and public facilities. Drivers of vehicles without number plates will be fined. That month, the state government also issued a decree removing all toll gates on its roads, prohibiting illegal collection of money, and arresting illegal ‘passage fee’ collectors. These checkpoints were set up by militiamen on vital roads, and they often used violence if drivers were reluctant to pay the high passage fees. File photo: Street in El Fasher, North Darfur (archive photo) Related: ‘Fewer crimes in South Darfur following emergency measures’ (20 October 2014) State of Emergency declared in North Darfur (6 October 2014) Four vehicles pay SDG 8,000 at North Darfur ‘toll gate’ (4 September 2014)