Central Darfur’s Mukjar ‘horror movie after sunset’

Groups of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police (popularly known as Abu Tira) are terrorising the population of Mukjar, and the neighbouring camp for the displaced.

Groups of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police (popularly known as Abu Tira) are terrorising the population of Mukjar, and the neighbouring camp for the displaced, in Central Darfur.

Several residents of Mukjar told Dabanga on Friday that “for the past four days, the town turns into a horror movie after sunset”.

They related how large groups of Abu Tira gunmen arrived on Monday, and began raiding their homes, shops, or assaulting people on the streets.

“They robbed and beat the people, and threaten to kill us under the pretext that we are supporting the rebel movements,” one of them said.

“We have begged the Unamid peacekeepers based in Mukjar to protect us, to no avail,” he added.

The victims appealed to the Central Darfur state authorities to intervene, stop the abuses, and bring the assailants to trial.