Darfur: Intertribal conflict results to the death of approximately 90 people and injuring of 160 others in Misterei, West Darfur

(08 July, 2023) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses concern over the deteriorating security in Sudan. We call upon the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the armed Arab militia groups to desist from the violent arbitrary attacks on Sudanese citizens. We also call upon the Sudanese authorities to carryout an independent and impartial investigations into the incidents that took place on 28 May 2023 in Misterei town that resulted into the death of 90 people, injuring of 160 others and displacement of approximately 900 families. Authorities must guarantee that their findings are published promptly and within a clear timeframe. Perpetrators must be held to account.

We further call on Sudanese authorities to:

• Officially and publicly condemn arbitrary attacks, unlawful killings and injury and make it clear that these acts are absolutely prohibited, and perpetrators will be held to account.
• To immediately prioritize the protection of civilians in all states across Sudan including Darfur region
• Ensure that SAF, police and law enforcement officers are deployed in the area to protect civilians.

ACJPS further calls on the international community to prioritize the protection of civilians and security situation in Darfur and deploy resources to ensure the protection of civilians in the region and assist with independent and impartial investigations of human rights violations with an aim of ensuring accountability.

On 28 May 2023, at around 06:00am, a group of approximately 300 armed Arabs from Awlad Rashid, Messeria and Awlad Janoob tribes led by Mohamed Zain Taj Eldien and Hamid Yousef Mustafa joined the RSF and other armed groups from Mima and Bargo tribes and launched an attack on Misterei town, located about 60 kilometers South West of Elgenina the capital West Darfur capital. The attackers arrived in 12 land cruiser vehicles; 08 belonging to RSF and 04 privately owned. Others were riding on 150 horses and approximately 140 motorcycles. The group was armed with heavy weapons such as J3 also known as Kalashnikov or Dushka Tanks.  The attackers surrounded the town from different directions except the South and West directions that was used by counter troops to access the town.

The Sudanese Alliance Forces (a signatory of the Sudan Peace Agreement, 2020) together with other armed locals countered the attack by deploying troops of approximately 90 soldiers in the area under the command of Captain Elteybe Abdulla Ahmed. The gunfire exchange lasted at least three and a half hours resultantly killing approximately 90 civilians including three females and injuring 160 others. Those who sustained injuries were taken to Abeche and Adri for medical attention. At around 12:00pm on the same day, the locals went ahead and buried approximately 80 corpses (victims of the attack) in a mass grave located in South Eastern side of Misterei Hospital.  After the attack, some residents fled to Adri, Abashi and Abgdam in Chad. At least 15 civilians have since gone missing including 15 elderly men and women whilst 9 members of Sudanese Alliance Forces have been arrested by the attackers.

The day after the attack, approximately 900 families fled to the neighboring Chad due to an increase in the raiding and looting of private houses and public premises. For example, the market was looted and completely burnt down. This has contributed to the increase in the number of refugees fleeing to Chad since 2003.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) withdrew their troops from the Misterei to Elgenina base on 10^th March 2023, leaving the area vulnerable to attacks.

It is alleged that this attack was a revenge mission after a previous attack on the Masalite people in Misterei which resulted into the banning of the Arabs in the town since 25 July 2020.

Other developments

On 27 May, 2023 approximately 200 soldiers affiliated to SAF stationed at Jabel Derindi located 3km west of Misterei were involved in a violent conflict with the RSF resultantly killing 17 personnel from SAF and injuring 10 others.

Names of people killed during the attack

1. Mohamed Younis Adam
2. Isam Abdi Adam Ahmed
3. Abdul Nabi Adam Ahmed
4. Ibrahim Juma Musa
5. Juma Adam Abdul Kareem
6. Noor Eldien Hassan Ramadan
7. Eltahir Ali Yousef
8. Malik Abdallah Abakar
9. Abdi Arbab AbakarYounis
10. Mohamed Adam Ahmed
11. Khater Daoud
12. Abdul Salam Abakar Tijah
13. Ishaq Ibrahim Juma
14. Gasim Abdul Rahman
15. Yahiya Abdul Ali
16. Elteyeb Ahmed Ibrahim
17. Idris Abakar.
18. Omer Ibrahim
19. Abdallah Yahiya Abdul Rahman
20. Arbab Suleiman
21. Abu Algasim Abdul Rahman
22. Mohamed Yousef Bashir
23. Abdu Yahiya Abdallah
24. Mohamed Sharif Ali
25. Khadija Abakar Adam
26. Adam Suleiman Mohamed
27. Younis Ahmed Adam
28. Abdu Adam
29. Amir Khamis Burah
30. Ashtah
31. Alsadiq Ismail Abdallah
32. Fatima Ibrahim Mohamed (f)
33. Abdul Nasir seneen Burah
34. Ibrahim Mohamed Adam
35. Ibrahim Mohamed Adam
36. Ahmed Fadul Mohamed
37. Yassin Arbab Jumah
38. Mawia Fadul Bilal
39. Mohamed Abdallah Abdul Rahman Adam
40. AL haj Ali Mohamed
41. Hussein Abdul Rahman Mahmoud
42. Abdallah Yousef Mohamed
43. Mohamed Adam Khater
44. Abdul Rahman Ramadan Hassan
45. Ismael Eltahir Yagoup
46. Sidiq Eltahir Yagoup
47. Bashar Ismail Maki
48. Sadam Mohamed Abdallah
49. Zahara Ismail Idris (f)
50. Malik
51. Juma Burah Yahya
52. Sharif Mohamed Ahmed
53. Abdul Rahman Hamad Ahmed
54. Mohamed Abdallah
55. Jamal Awad Abdul Raha
56. Ibrahim alias Kabkaba”
57. Mohamed Juma Hussien
58. Mohamed Abdul Gadir Zakary
59. Yassaiz Hassan Adam
60. Khalil Abdul Rahman
61. Awad Rajab Abakar Khater
62. Sheikh Eldien Ahmed Abdallah
63. Omer Haroun Ismail
64. Juma Yousef Mohamed
65. Alsadiq Mohamad Mahmoud
66. Arbab Hassan Mohamed
67. Mohamad Mustafa Ahmed
68. Ibrahim Abdallah Abdul Rahman
69. Adam Khamis
70. Osman
71. Wad Arbab kiks
72. Mohamed Hassan Suleiman
73. Abdallah Khamis Sabir
74. Ahmed Bashir
75. Mohamed Mater
76. Gamar Burah Sabon
77. Ismail Wad Dinga
78. Yassain Abdaul Rahman Mohamed
79. Hassan Omer Haroun
80. Abu Salah
81. Hashem
82. Abdul Kareem alias Thalab
83. Hussna Ali Juma(f)
84. Mohamed Idris

Names of Missing persons

1. Mohamed Sidiq Wad Al nuba
2. Doudan Hassan Suliman
3. Abdul Majeed Sabutaj
4. Mohamed Daldoum Marfeen
5. Jumiah Mohamed Douton