Militia leader installs council in North Darfur locality

Militia commander Musa Hilal has established a committee of 100 people, compiled from various tribes in Saraf Umra locality, North Darfur. The committee will choose the commissioner and executive directors in the locality, which is controlled by Hilal’s Janjaweed militias. The committee is headed by Obeidallah Tarbo and Ahmed Abdallah Baraka. According to the self-pronounced administration, the committee has at least five people from each tribe. Charge on vehicles The new administration has started to charge the vehicles in the area. Cars and trucks coming from Omdurman have to pay SDG 300 ($52). Trucks coming from nearby towns have to pay SDG 100 ($17). The public transport inside Saraf Umra is charged with SDG 25 ($4), the spokesman of Musa Hilal told Radio Dabanga. Hilal’s troops announced control of Saraf Umra town, Kutum town, Kabkabiya town, and El Waha area, and the establishment of administrations, on Thursday. The commander, armed by Khartoum during the beginning of the conflict in Darfur, has separated himself and called his movement the ‘Awakening Revolutionary Council’. Saraf Umra returnees According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), 53,000 people have returned to their homes in Saraf Umra. Since 6 March, an estimated 65,000 people fled their homes in the Saraf Umra area following attacks by Musa Hilal’s Janjaweed troops. This displacement included: about 1,000 people in El Sareif Beni Hussein, North Darfur; 4,000 in Kereneik locality, West Darfur; and 5,200 in Fassi in Zalingei locality, Central Darfur, according to humanitarian organisations. An additional 55,000 people took refuge near the UN team site, 2 km from Saraf Umra town in North Darfur. However, as of 17 March, most of the 55,000 people at the Unamid team site have returned to their homes. 2,000 people have remained at the site, according to community leaders. The World Food Programme has started food distributions in Saraf Umra town. File photo: Musa Hilal (photographer unknown) Related: Musa Hilal ‘establishes administration’ in North Darfur (19 March 2014) OCHA: ‘55,000 newly displaced in North Darfur’s Saraf Omra’ (18 March 2014)

Militia commander Musa Hilal has established a committee of 100 people, compiled from various tribes in Saraf Umra locality, North Darfur. The committee will choose the commissioner and executive directors in the locality, which is controlled by Hilal's Janjaweed militias.

The committee is headed by Obeidallah Tarbo and Ahmed Abdallah Baraka. According to the self-pronounced administration, the committee has at least five people from each tribe.

Charge on vehicles

The new administration has started to charge the vehicles in the area. Cars and trucks coming from Omdurman have to pay SDG 300 ($52). Trucks coming from nearby towns have to pay SDG 100 ($17). The public transport inside Saraf Umra is charged with SDG 25 ($4), the spokesman of Musa Hilal told Radio Dabanga.

Hilal's troops announced control of Saraf Umra town, Kutum town, Kabkabiya town, and El Waha area, and the establishment of administrations, on Thursday. The commander, armed by Khartoum during the beginning of the conflict in Darfur, has separated himself and called his movement the 'Revolutionary Awakening Council'.

Saraf Umra returnees

According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), 53,000 people have returned to their homes in Saraf Umra. Since 6 March, an estimated 65,000 people fled their homes in the Saraf Umra area following attacks by Musa Hilal's Janjaweed troops.

This displacement included: about 1,000 people in El Sareif Beni Hussein, North Darfur; 4,000 in Kereneik locality, West Darfur; and 5,200 in Fassi in Zalingei locality, Central Darfur, according to humanitarian organisations.

An additional 55,000 people took refuge near the UN team site, 2 km from Saraf Umra town in North Darfur. However, as of 17 March, most of the 55,000 people at the Unamid team site have returned to their homes. 2,000 people have remained at the site, according to community leaders. The World Food Programme has started food distributions in Saraf Umra town.

File photo: Musa Hilal (photographer unknown)

Related:

Musa Hilal 'establishes administration' in North Darfur (19 March 2014)

OCHA: ‘55,000 newly displaced in North Darfur’s Saraf Omra’ (18 March 2014)