Series of ‘killings, lootings’ by Abbala militias in N. Darfur

Abbala militias “armed by the Sudanese government” have been carrying a series of killings and lootings in North Darfur in the past two days, multiple sources affirm. On Tuesday, they opened fire on two high school students who were collecting hay killing them on the spot, the relative of one the victims told Radio Dabanga.The victims are Bashir Hammad Gassim and Abul Qasim Mohamed Abdul Rahman, who is deaf, the source noted.Saraf Omra: five injured Also on Tuesday, five people were injured in a two separate incidents in Saraf Omra, local sources informed Radio Dabanga.They alleged that Abbala militiamen stormed the city’s market late in the afternoon and started firing fiercely in the air. Two citizens were injured and the market was closed until Wednesday, according to eyewitnesses.About 500 citizens marched to the locality’s headquarters protesting against the market’s incident and demanding security.Guards responded by firing shots in the direction of the “angry” demonstrators wounding three of them, sources noted.Four out of the total five wounded victims were transferred to a hospital in Saraf Omra and the fifth was taken to a hospital in El-Geneina due to his serious injuries.Police withdraws During the attack at the market, sources reported, the Saraf Omra police withdrew from their bases around town back to their headquarters.The Sudanese army was deployed to the scene instead and regained control of the situation. In addition, they arrested eight militants suspected of destroying shops and transferred them to El-Fasher. Lootings A passengers’ vehicle on Tuesday was stopped in an area called Jebel Ireinat by Abbala militias, who stripped the commuters of all of their belongings, including their money and mobile phones, sources said.The vehicle belonged to a certain Ahmad Jelab and was traveling from Saraf Omra to Al-Sref Beni Hussein.On Wednesday, Abbala tribesmen looted a total of 80 cows and 320 goats in the areas of Korguleh north and Umm Khojara, Al-Sref Beni Hussein locality, sources reported.Members of the Arab Abbala and Beni Husein tribes firstly clashed on 5 January in Jebel ‘Amer, Al-Sref Beni Hussein locality, over control of gold mines in the region.Thousands were displaced as a result and the UN stated the tribal clashes led to the biggest forced displacement in Darfur in years, estimating that about 100.000 people fled their homes.Civilians fled mainly to the nearby towns of Al-Sref Beni Hussein, Saraf Omra, Kabkabiya and Abu Gamra.Radio Dabanga fle photoSee also: ‘Schools and roads closed, no aid’ in Al-Sref, N. Darfur (12 February 2013)