Targeted attacks on civilians in South Darfur continue

(26 May 2014) The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) continues to document targeted attacks on civilians in South Darfur after a brutal counter-insurgency campaign led by the Government’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the state has subsided. On 14 May four civilians, including one child, were killed when roughly thirty-five members of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF) attacked and looted the market in Bulbul Dalal town. Members of the PDF also raped a thirteen year-old girl during the attack. Later, on 20 May, around twenty men armed with Kalashnikov rifles, some wearing the uniform of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), entered Kalma camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and killed one resident of the camp after a group of residents questioned their presence.

Violence and attacks on civilians surged in South Darfur state in late February and early March when the RSF was deployed to the region in a counter-insurgency effort. Despite the stated aims of the government offensive – to quash rebel presence in the region – civilians bore the brunt of the action and were directly targeted. Dozens of villages throughout South Darfur were attacked in a military campaign that was characterised by air attacks by the SAF and ground offences by joint forces of the RSF, SAF, and PDF. According to the United Nations, at least 45,000 civilians were displaced in the Um Gunya area of South Darfur in late February and early March.[1]

On 15 May, the SAF bombed Fanga village in eastern Jebel Marra, South Darfur killing four civilians, including an 81 year old man. There was no rebel presence in Fanga. These targeted attacks on civilian areas by government forces and government-sponsored militia, including areas where there is no rebel presence, appear to have been aimed at stemming public support for the rebel movements operating in the region through a campaign of terror and forced displacement.

Bulbul Dalal market

At 1pm on 14 May around thirty-five members of the PDF attacked Bulbul Dalal market in Al Salam locality of South Darfur state. The militia was led by Abdallah Younis Abdallah and was armed with Kalashnikovs and hand grenades. Four civilians, including one child, were killed during the attack and a thirteen year old girl was raped by a member of the PDF. The girl lost consciousness during the attack and has since not been able to access medical services. The market was also looted and livestock stolen.

The PDF is a paramilitary force operational in Sudan’s conflict zones that has played a major role in the distribution of weapons and mobilisation of ethnically based militias. ACJPS has documented their involvement in attacks in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, and most recently in joint attacks alongside the RSF. The names of the four civilians, including one child, killed in the attack on 14 May are below.

1. Dawood Abdallah Idriss, (m), 60 years of age, farmer, member of the Fur ethnic group.
2. Mohamed Dawood Idriss, (m), 12 years of age, student, member of the Fur ethnic group.
3. Adam Eisa El-sheikh, (m), 40 years of age, farmer, member of the Fur ethnic group.
4. Mohamed Sidig Ahmed, (m), 25 years of age, farmer, member the Fur ethnic group.

A reliable source confirmed to ACJPS that there was no rebel presence in Bulbul Dalal.

Kalma IDP Camp, South Darfur

On 20 May around twenty men armed with Kalashnikovs, some wearing SAF uniform, entered Kalma IDP camp. Kalma IDP camp is located outside Nyala, with a Government checkpoint on its perimeter. The joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNAMID, has a base inside the camp and conducts regular patrols.

When stopped by a group of IDPs, the armed men stated that they were looking for their sheep. When the IDPs disputed this, the men began shooting. One IDP, Abdulkareem Abdulshafei Karjawa, (m), 35 years of age, resident of Centre 4 of the camp, was shot in the chest. He was taken to Nyala Hospital where he died from his injuries. The following day he was buried in the cemetery at Kalma camp.

IDPs later gathered in a procession from the centre of the camp to the UNAMID base inside Kalma and demanded better security within the camp.

ACJPS condemns all arbitrary attacks on civilians and calls on the Government of Sudan (GoS) to cease attacks in civilian areas and:

• Officially and publicly condemn arbitrary attacks, unlawful killings, and sexual violence and make clear that these acts are absolutely prohibited and will be prosecuted.
• Launch an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack on Bulbul Dalal and Kalma IDP camp and guarantee that their findings are published promptly and within a clear timeframe. The findings of investigations established by the Sudanese authorities on previous human rights violations in Darfur, such as the killing of fifty-eight civilians in Tabra, North Darfur in 2010, have never been published.
• Put in place tightened restrictions on the use and supply of arms and ammunitions. A concerted effort to control arms and ammunition in the region should be launched, as well as controls over the use of government vehicles and ammunition and the presence of militias and weapons in public places.
• Repeal all legal provisions granting immunities to police officers, members of the NISS and members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) respectively, including the removal of immunities for members of the SAF under the 2007 Armed Forces Act. PDF recruits come under regular army command once integrated into the SAF.
• Establish a compensation fund for the families of the victims.
• Ensure that the victim of rape has access to appropriate medical and legal services.
• Guarantee full humanitarian access throughout Darfur.

ACJPS also calls on UNAMID to fulfil its mandate to contribute to the protection of civilian populations under imminent threat of physical violence, and prevent attacks against civilians within its capability and areas of deployment.

Contact: Katherine Perks, Programme Director, Kampala, on info@acjps.org or +256 775072136.

[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Humanitarian Bulletin Sudan: Issue 10”, 3 – 9 March 2014.