African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(5 August 2021) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) expresses deep concern about the recent surge of targeted attacks by armed militia against farmers in the North Darfur state. These attacks have left civilians dead, injured, missing and displaced. The Government of Sudan should immediately put in place measures to protect farmers throughout North Darfur state. ACJPS calls on Sudanese authorities to carry out an independent investigation into the attacks and hold perpetrators to account.
On 31 July 2021, ACJPS documented an incident where at least one person was killed and 4 others wounded whilst hundreds of people fled their villages in Tawila locality, North Darfur state, following attacks by armed militias. The deceased has been identified as Mr Hamid Mohamed Tarboosh, a 50-year-old male from Galab village. The wounded people were transferred to a hospital in El-Fashir city.
According to reliable sources, tens of armed men in vehicles and on motorcycles, camels and horses attacked the villages of Kolgi, Jallab, Kadarek, Omsayala, Adara, Omarda in Tawila locality. The villages are inhabited by displaced people from Zamzam IDP camp near the city of El-fashir, who temporarily returned to tend their crops during the current agricultural season. However, the militias still control all of the villages to which displaced people have returned for agriculture in the areas of Kolgi, Gallab and nearby villages.
ACJPS has been reliably informed that the security committee in North Darfur state has dispatched a joint force of 15 combat vehicles to contain the tensions and to control the situation. An investigation committee has been established but none of the perpetrators has been arrested or prosecuted.
ACJPS condemns arbitrary attacks against 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.
- Launch an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Darfur and guarantee that their findings are published promptly and within a clear timeframe.
- 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.
- Ensure access to essential services particularly health services, food and water.
International community, particularly the European Union, United States, United Nations and African Union, to support the Transitional Government of Sudan to meet its legal obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.
Backgound
For years, armed pastoralists in Darfur region have targeted IDPs by releasing their livestock on the farms to disrupt their agricultural crops. These militiamen have become a real threat to the agricultural season, especially as it is their custom to attack all those who go out to cultivate their land and get their livestock by force of arms on the farms.
The affected civilians have called on the authorities to intervene and expel the armed pastoralists so that they can cultivate their farms. However, violence has continued as the occupying militants refuses to leave the farms and continue to attack farmers. No investigations into the attacks have led to prosecutions.
For further information, contact Mossaad Mohamed Ali at: mossaad.ali@acjps.org
