Woman set on fire, driver shot dead, displaced robbed in Darfur

A resident of El Salam camp, located south of Nyala, capital of South Darfur, sustained severe burns on Tuesday, when militiamen set her and her donkey cart on fire. In Central Darfur, a driver was shot dead on Monday when he refused to pay “toll fees” at a checkpoint set up by militiamen on the Zalingei-Nyala road. Ten displaced were robbed of their belongings in separate incidents during the past few days in Saraf Umra locality, North Darfur.

Speaking to Dabanga, El Salam camp sheikh Mahjoub Adam Tabaldiya reported that “three government-backed militiamen intercepted Nura Shumu El Tom (60) on her way back to the camp with straw she had collected in the area”. 

“They tied her to the donkey cart, and ignited the straw. El Tom was seriously injured. Her donkey burned to death,” he said.

SDG10

In Central Darfur, Omar Abdallah, driver of a Land Cruiser belonging to the firm maintaining the Zalingei-Nyala road, was killed by militiamen at a fake checkpoint between Zalingei and Kass on Monday.

According to witnesses, an argument arose about the amount the driver had to pay. “The militiamen demanded SDG20 ($3.35), but Abdallah insisted on paying SDG10 only. He then grabbed his gun, but the militiamen were faster, and killed him on the spot.”

They told Dabanga that the killing led to the gathering of large crowds of militiamen connected with the victim, near the “checkpoint”, and in the area of Korli in Zalingei locality. “They seem to be prepared to start fighting at any moment.”

Robberies

In Saraf Umra locality, North Darfur, ten displaced were robbed of their money, mobile phones, livestock, and pack animals at gunpoint since Friday, the coordinator of the Saraf Umra camps told Dabanga.

“Some 18 goats, two horses, two donkeys, about SDG3,000 ($500), and a mobile phone were stolen in total,” he reported.