Militia attack NISS and MSF buildings in North Darfur

01/09/2013 22:37

Pro-government militiamen are said to have attacked a house resided by members of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in North Darfur on Saturday. The same group allegedly attacked later that day the headquarters of the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that militiamen opened fire on a house in Tawila resided by 20 NISS members with grenades and machine guns. One of the victim called the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira).Representatives of both groups are said to have arrived “immediately” and expelled the attackers. No one was reportedly hurt.Later that day, the same militants attacked the base of the MSF also in Tawila. After threatening the security guards at gunpoint, the militiamen managed to enter the building and took “computers, mobile phones, medical supplies, and a vehicle belonging to the NGO”, source recounted.Sources said the vehicle was found just outside Tawila, as it apparently broke down due to a technical fault.At time of posting, Radio Dabanga was unable to reach MSF to confirm or comment on the incident.File photo: A doctor from Médecins Sans Frontières examines a child in Chad for malnutrition (Catherine Robinson/MSF) Related: Masked gang plunder NGO’s office in South Darfur (25 August 2013) Darfur violence puts pressure on MSF in Chad (6 August 2013) Medical NGO workers’ salaries stolen in Central Darfur (30 July 2013)

Pro-government militiamen are said to have attacked a house resided by members of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in North Darfur on Saturday. The same group allegedly attacked later that day the headquarters of the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that militiamen opened fire on a house in Tawila resided by 20 NISS members with grenades and machine guns. One of the victim called the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Central Reserve Forces (known as Abu Tira).

Representatives of both groups are said to have arrived “immediately” and expelled the attackers. No one was reportedly hurt.

Later that day, the same militants attacked the base of the MSF also in Tawila. After threatening the security guards at gunpoint, the militiamen managed to enter the building and took “computers, mobile phones, medical supplies, and a vehicle belonging to the NGO”, source recounted.

Sources said the vehicle was found just outside Tawila, as it apparently broke down due to a technical fault.

At time of posting, Radio Dabanga was unable to reach MSF to confirm or comment on the incident.

File photo: A doctor from Médecins Sans Frontières examines a child in Chad for malnutrition (Catherine Robinson/MSF)

Related: 

Masked gang plunder NGO’s office in South Darfur (25 August 2013)

Darfur violence puts pressure on MSF in Chad (6 August 2013)

Medical NGO workers’ salaries stolen in Central Darfur (30 July 2013)