Tawila town and the adjacent Rwanda camp for the displaced in North Darfur were raided by a large group of militia troops today.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Radio Dabanga, multiple sources in Tawila said that militia forces in more than 20 armoured Land Cruisers, led by Badr Abdel Rahman Abu Kineish, stormed Tawila town and the Rwanda camp on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cCitizens fled to their homes, vendors at the markets ran from their shops, while troops of the Sudan Armed Forces stood watching,\u201d the sources said. \u201cThe militiamen then occupied themselves with loading their vehicles with goods they took from the shops and stores.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Omda of the Rwanda camp, Musa El Taher Bush, told Radio Dabanga that the militiamen entered the camp in 21 vehicles on Wednesday afternoon, and \u201ckind of settled near the camp market\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe camp elders went to them, asking for the reason of their visit to Tawila and the camp. The militiamen replied by asking about the whereabouts of the Tora Bora – as they call the rebels. We told them that there are no rebels in the camp, and that we also do not know where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe told them to search for the rebels in the wilderness, instead of terrifying the residents of Tawila and the camp, where there are really no rebels to be found.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Omda sharply criticised the authorities for not intervening. \u201cThey are just watching, practising discrimination, supporting criminals, and not protecting anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore I tell all the citizens, everyone with a knife, a spear, or a sword, to use it. After this, we will not flee anymore. Every one of us will defend himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bush also blamed the armed movements for \u201cbringing the people into trouble\u201d. \u201cYou, if you want to fight the government, than fight. We, the citizens get into trouble by these militias asking us over and over again about the whereabouts of the Tora Bora. So if you, rebels, do not want to fight, don\u2019t do it, but leave us, the citizens, living in peace, without these raids of militiamen searching for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the Governor of North Darfur State, the Omda said that \u201cfrom today onwards, you, the Governor, will not receive complaints anymore. We will not ask you again to protect us an. But if we start fighting, don\u2019t blame us. We have left our fear behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n
File photo: Militiamen in Darfur<\/em><\/p>\n