Darfur lawyers condemn killing of 13 civilians in airstrikes

The Darfur lawyers’ association announced its determination to present a memo to the Minister of Justice and the United Nations demanding an immediate investigation of the air strikes that occurred on Sunday in the areas of Esheraya and Labado in the state of South Darfur. The air strikes, which occurred in two separate incidents, killed 13 people and wounded others. The lawyers want those behind the airstrikes to be brought to trial.

Taj Eldin Siddig, a member of the executive committee of the lawyers’ association, speaking through Radio Dabanga, demanded the government do its duty to investigate and try the offenders and guarantee that the incident would not happen again. In a statement it released, the lawyers’ association strongly condemned the armed activities by all sides in areas inhabited by civilians, and at the same time condemned subjecting innocent, unarmed citizens to danger through the airstrikes and military operations.

For its part, the UNMID in its daily press release yesterday confirmed that there were airstrikes by the planes of the Sudanese army on the areas of Esheraya and Labado and stated that the number victims and whether there were people displaced have not yet been determined, revealing that it is planning on sending a team to the two areas.