Surge of lawlessness in Sudan

Sudan saw various violent incidents over the past week. In Saraf Omra, North Darfur, a man was killed by armed robbers on Sunday. In a separate incident, three farmers were injured in an attack by herders. An explosion in Khartoum North left another two people dead. Various robberies took place in South and North Kordofan, but the police failed to respond.

Passenger transport in Sudan (File photo: Retlaw Snellac – Creative commons)

Sudan witnessed various violent incidents over the past week. In Saraf Omra, North Darfur, a man was killed by armed robbers on Sunday. In a separate incident, three farmers were injured in an attack by herders. An explosion in Khartoum North left another two people dead. Various robberies took place in South and North Kordofan, but the police failed to respond.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Birkat Seira in Saraf Omra, activist Mohamed Khater reported that three gunmen attacked Abdallah Abdelmola (31), a father of five, on Sunday in an attempt to steal his fodder.

When managed to prevent them from stealing his belongings, the robbers left. They returned in the evening and fatally shot him. The incident was reported to the police.

In another incident in the north of Saraf Omra, two shepherds attacked three farmers and left them wounded.

In Khartoum North, a grenade blast in the area of El Samra El Ladmab left two students dead and another seriously injured. A listener told Radio Dabanga that Mohamed Khalafallah (24) and Omar Kareb (16) died on the spot. Suleiman Ibrahim (14) was transferred to a hospital.

Robberies

Yesterday, the Sudanese Human Rights and Development Organisation (HUDO) reported that a robbery took place in South Kordofan on November 22.

More than 20 passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle from Abu Jubeiha to Talodi were robbed of their money and smartphones at gunpoint in the area of Gardoud Toro by four armed men dressed in Rapid Support Forces uniform.

The victims immediately reported the case to the Military Intelligence unit at Gardoud Toro, and filed a complaint at the Talodi police station the next day, but no action was taken.

Many more robbery attempts are committed alongside this road, due to the lack of response from police. November 24, for instance, saw three attempts at armed robbery of passengers in the same place. The drivers did not stop. The next day, six gunmen shot at a commercial vehicle near El Beida because the driver refused to stop.

HUDO added that any other cases of attempted robbery incidents took place around Talodi. All cases were reported to police, but no action was taken.

In another press statement, on Sunday, HUDO reported that three people from the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan were robbed at gunpoint by four masked armed men dressed in civilian clothes on November 24, 30 km east of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.

Also in this case, the police refused to respond to the robbery or file a case.

Last week, Radio Dabanga reported at least three robberies on the road between Talodi and Kologi. The upsurge in violence is thought to be caused by increased tensions between herders clans and the absence of authorities in the area.


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