Motorcyclist killed by members of former Sudan government militia

Three masked men wearing uniforms of the Popular Defence Forces militia shot a motorcyclist dead in South Kordofan on Saturday.

Hasan Ismail (51) was travelling from his village of Baloula to nearby Rashad on a motorcycle, when the attackers intercepted him. They forces him to stop and shot him. They then fled on two motorcycles, the Sudanese human rights organisation HUDO reports. The reason for the attack is unknown.

Ismail was found by people on a lorry that passed by. He was still breathing. His motorcycle was found nearby as well. He was taken to Rashad Hospital where he died. In the lorry, he described the uniforms of the his attackers.

The case was reported to the police of Rashad.

HUDO expressed its grave concerns about the situation of civilians in conflict areas and called upon the Sudanese government to ensure their safety. It also demanded the Popular Defence Forces be dissolved.

Popular Defence Forces

The Popular Defence Forces are a paramilitary force, established after Omar Al Bashir’s military coup in 1989 as a dedicated Islamist militia. Under international law it is considered part of Sudan's military because it was created by statute.

However, the militia was defined by the Al Bashir regime as a semi-military force of Sudanese citizens. Popular Defence Forces members receive training, uniforms, guns, ammunition, and food, but no salaries.

It also operated as a reserve force for the Sudan Armed Forces. The militiamen were mainly mobilised from Darfur, to fight against rebels in present South Sudan. The militia is still operational in Darfur and South Kordofan. It also plays a major role in the distribution of weapons to, and military training for, tribal militias.

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