Two minors raped in North Darfur

Government-backed militia accused of being behind both incidences

A government-backed armed militia group raped a minor residing in Horse Race Camp in North Darfur’s Kabkabiya region on Saturday.A relative of the rape victim told Radio Dabanga that the 12-year-old girl was returning with her five-year-old brother after logging when four armed militants kidnapped her and took turns at raping her. The victim was abducted from Kabkabiya military post.

“They hit her five-year-old brother and tied him to a tree trunk. The police have refused to look for the perpetrators. They even said they wouldn’t come along to search for the victim,” the relative said.

Another minor raped

Another 14-year-old refugee was raped on Saturday by a group of gunmen affiliated to the government in Shuba area, south of Kabkabiya, witnesses told Radio Dabanga.

The three men accused of having committed the crime arrived on horsebacks to kidnap the girl when she was working in the farm. They then gang-raped her and did not release her until the following day.

Reports of rapes by government-backed forces have undergone a steep rise in recent times. Last week, Radio Dabanga reported about rapes and looting committed by armed militia affiliated to the government, in Mornei and Garsila camps.

Refugee hanged

In another incident, a refugee was hung from a tree in Beer Janakow in East Kabkabiya on Saturday. A relative of the deceased told Radio Dabanga that the 67-year-old Adam Mohamed Ali had been out to collect firewood when the incident took place.

“When we went to look out for him, we found him hanging from the branch of a tree. His body also showed signs of torture,” the relative said. The motives behind the hanging are still unknown.