More than 80 detained in Kass, South Darfur

Authorities in Kass locality, South Darfur, on Thursday reported that 83 people were apprehended last week, in a campaign targeting criminal elements in the area. The campaign is part of the “emergency measures”, announced on 15 July by the Governor of South Darfur State, in an attempt to combat the rampant insecurity in the region. A special Emergency Court was established in Nyala to deal with violators of the emergency orders. Security, police, and military forces have combed a number of districts in Nyala, and stormed four camps for the displaced located near the capital, in search of “weapons, alcohol, and drugs”. Human rights activists in South Darfur have criticised the excessive use of force in the implementation of the emergency measures. They claim that there “must be innocent people among the detainees in this huge wave of arrests”. File photo Related:Military raid on South Darfur’s Kalma camp; Unamid measures ‘to mitigate impact’ (14 August 2014) Military raid on South Darfur camp ‘a farce’: Sheikh (7 August 2014) ‘Criminals flee South Darfur capital’ (5 August 2014) Strict security measures in South Darfur capital (28 July 2014) ‘Emergency measures’ to curb insecurity in South Darfur (16 July 2014)