Darfur: Sudanese authorities must urgently put in place measures to protect civilians from arbitrary attacks by armed militias

 (15 June 2020) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern with the surge of targeted attacks against civilians in Darfur since late May 2020. ACJPS has documented four incidents involving attacks on civilians in five villages in the states of Central, North and South Darfur that left ten people dead and eighteen injured including an eight-month-old baby.

ACJPS condemns the arbitrary attacks on civilians in Darfur region and calls on:

• The transitional government to officially and publicly condemn these arbitrary attacks, unlawful killings and injury and make it clear that these acts are absolutely prohibited and perpetrators will be held to account.
• Sudanese authorities to immediately put in place measures to protect civilians in Darfur region. Put in place tightened restrictions on the use and supply of arms and ammunitions, and a concerted effort to control arms and ammunition in the region should be launched, as well as controls over the use of ammunition and the presence of militias and weapons in public places.
• 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. UNAMID’s capacity has already been threatened by the significant drawdown in its military and police officers.
• International community, particularly the European Union, United States, UN and African Union, to support the Transitional Government of Sudan to meet its legal obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.

Details on incidents of attack against civilians in Darfur region 

 Two villages attacked in Jabel Marra, Central Darfur state

On Tuesday 2 June 2020, a reliable source informed ACJPS that Barbar and Danan villages in North Nerteti were attacked by armed militias who killed three women and injured six people.

The names of the deceased are:

1. Fatima Hamid (female)
2. Hawa Ismail (female)
3. Sawda Haroun (female)

The names of the injured are:

1. Abdelsalam Mousa (Male)
2. Darelsalam, (Female)
3. Hasan Mousa (male, eight-months-old).
4. Hawa (female)
5. Idris Adam (male)
6. Khadija Hasan, (Female)

Four people injured in an attack by armed militias in Joroof village in North Darfur

On Wednesday 3 June 2020, a group of armed militias attacked the village of Joroof in North Darfur state. The attack left four civilians injured and displaced tens to the neighboring villages.

The names of the injured are:

1. Alnur Mohamedain (male)
2. Alday Adam (male)
3. Mosa Adam (male)
4. Mohamed Yagoub (male)

Three people killed by armed militias in Karu village, West Tawila locality in North Darfur state

On 4 June 2020, armed militias driving in a Land Cruiser raided Karu village in West Tawila locality in North Darfur state. Three militia men were killed while one sustained serious injury.

The names of the deceased militiamen are:

1. Jamal Suliman, (male)
2. Abdelnaby Abdella ( male)
3. Ahmed Abdella (male)

Mr. Ahmed Adam, a militia man was injured in the attack.

Three people killed by armed militias in Geraida village, South Darfur state

On Thursday 21 May 2020, armed militias on horse and camelbacks killed four civilians and injured seven others in Graida locality, South Darfur state. The bodies of those killed and the injured were taken to the hospital in Graida.

The names of the deceased are:

1. Abdel Gadir Abdelrahman, (male)
2. Adam Shomain, (male)
3. Hassan Yaqoub Osman, (male)
4. Mohamed Hamad Issa, (male)

The names of injured people are:

1. Abdel kareem Mossa Jouma (male)
2. Abdella Mossa Yagoub (male)
3. Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelkareem,(male)
4. Mohamed Abdella(male)
5. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed (male)
6. Mossa Abdelrahman Osman (male)
7. Saead Mohamed Khamees (male)

Background

For years, civilians in the Darfur region have been the primary targets of killings, large-scale forced displacement, rape and other forms of sexual violence, destruction of villages and property, pillaging, abductions, acts of torture, indiscriminate aerial bombardments, arbitrary arrests and detention.

The transitional government has set as a key priority putting an end to insurgencies in the Darfur region and other conflict states and ensuring lasting peace. However, since the formation of the sovereign council, several instances of tribal clashes and militia attacks against civilians have taken place in different states in Sudan, including the recent attack on an internally displaced people’s camp in Geneina where at least 72 people were killed and 109 others wounded between 29 and 31 December 2019. On 21 April 2019, ACJPS documented  an attack against civilians in Tamur Jameel village, North East Zalingi in Central Darfur state by armed militia,

Contact:

Mossaad Mohamed Ali, Executive Director, African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies . (English, Arabic, Swedish): +46727712782, mossaad.ali@acjps.org