Murder threats in North Darfur camp

Militiamen have threatened to kill displaced people in a camp in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, and closed off the main road. A delegation of the locality’s security committee has attempted to contain the situation.

The militiamen, reportedly led by militia leader Mahmoud Midekhir, closed the road between Kabkabiya and Sortony on Tuesday night, and remained there until Wednesday. They also occupied the only water source in the area, in Kobe, 4 kilometres west of Sortony camp. 

A witness told Radio Dabanga that the men demand blood money for two comrades they claim were killed in a fight between militiamen and owners of commercial vehicles at the market in Sortony on Monday evening. One driver and one vehicle owner were shot dead when a group of gunmen attacked commercial vehicles loaded with goods, and stole three of the vehicles, that had arrived at the market a few hours earlier.

The militiamen threatened to kill the displaced people and burn Sortony camp unless SDG 400,000 ($65,200) is paid as blood money, the witness said. Reports suggest that the militiamen were unaware that the drivers were active for their group, and now accuse the displaced people of being responsible for their death.

Meanwhile, another source said that from Tuesday evening until today, the situation in the area was very tense as people have not had access to drinking water as a result of the occupation of the water wells. Supplies of food and medicines did not reach the population via the road from Kabkabiya.

On Wednesday, a delegation of the native administration, led by Shartai Abdallah Abu Shouk, and the Kabkabiya security committee, consisting of members of the security service, police and military, went to Sortony in an attempt to contain the situation and resolve the problem. Radio Dabanga is closely following the events in Sortony.