Khartoum making new militia recruitment effort for Darfur

The government in Khartoum is making a new militia recruitment effort in order to further its military plans in the region. The Popular Defense Forces (PDF) militias are scrambling fighers and beginning to transfer them to Darfur to support military operations. The new effort, however, was downplayed by a senior official who told Al Hayat newspaper that the PDF are going to Darfur to secure the return of displaced persons to their homes and guard the villages of return.

Meanwhile, the National Service Administration of the Armed Forces in the locality Liait Jar Al Naby in North Darfur issued a questionnaire to teachers in all schools and asked the teachers fill out an application form and pay the amount of seventeen pounds. According to one witness, teachers refused and were threatened that their salaries would be stopped if they do not fill in the form.