Series of assaults near Kutum, 3 killed

Three people were killed and another was injured as a result of an alleged assault by a pro-government militia group in the gold exploration area of Hashaba, north of Kutum, North Darfur. Radio Dabanga was informed that the gunmen, driving five Land Cruisers, also looted about 100 camels during the attack that occurred on Wednesday, 2 January.  The camels belonged to Muhtar Salim Kursi, sources reported. The fatal victims are Adam Abdullah Jalle Hussein, Yahia Yaqub Ismail Ibrahim and Mohamedin Abakar Awad, and Mohamed Ahmed Idriss was injured, witnesses said. Jaira Also on Wednesday, militants attacked the Jaira village, located about 40 kilometers north of Kutum. The perpetrators allegedly looted camels and sheep and wounded a number of citizens, who managed to reach Kutum town the same evening. Yasser Bahar, secretary of the military affairs of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Unity faction, suggested that pro-government militias carried out the attack. He said the perpetrators, some driving cars and others riding camels, attacked Jaira at about 1pm and asserted that his forces confronted the aggressors when citizens asked for help. The secretary confirmed witnesses’ accounts that several civilians were injured and that camels and sheep were looted. Radio Dabanga file photo