Sudanese paramilitary block Nyala-Kass-Zalingei road in pay protest

The Central Reserve Force set up a roadblock near Nertiti, disrupting for 24 hours the movement of vehicles on the main road from Nyala to Kass to Zalingei. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the Central Reservists set up the roadblock to protest a delay in payment of their salaries. Sources said that long and arduous negotiations with the soldiers finally succeeded in opening the road. But the cars had been stopped for a full day in the road. A fight between government security forces and another unit of the same paramilitary force took place in El Fasher on Sunday. The fighting with the Central Reserve Force sparked fear and panic in the hearts of citizens of El Fasher. Consequently, the market was closed. One resident attributed the cause of the clash to an incident just days ago. According to the source, two reservists trying to access the city center were injured when a group of them were halted and fired on by other security forces. This is not the first time that the militia has clashed with authorities. Fighting occurred in El Fasher’s main market in May 2009.

The Central Reserve Force set up a roadblock near Nertiti, disrupting for 24 hours the movement of vehicles on the main road from Nyala to Kass to Zalingei. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the Central Reservists set up the roadblock to protest a delay in payment of their salaries. Sources said that long and arduous negotiations with the soldiers finally succeeded in opening the road. But the cars had been stopped for a full day in the road.

A fight between government security forces and another unit of the same paramilitary force took place in El Fasher on Sunday. The fighting with the Central Reserve Force sparked fear and panic in the hearts of citizens of El Fasher. Consequently, the market was closed. One resident attributed the cause of the clash to an incident just days ago. According to the source, two reservists trying to access the city center were injured when a group of them were halted and fired on by other security forces. This is not the first time that the militia has clashed with authorities. Fighting occurred in El Fasher’s main market in May 2009.