Raids carried out by pro-government militias on the road connecting El-Fasher and Tawila in North Darfur is putting the traffic flow and the movements of citizens at a complete halt, residents claim.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Wednesday, they added the attacks are causing a sharp rise in food and commodities prices.<\/p>\n
According to an inhabitant of Tawila, the price of a can of cooking oil boosted from 200 to 300 Sudanese pounds and a sac of sugar from 320 to 350. In addition, transportation costs between El-Fasher and Tawila rose from 10 to 50 pounds.<\/p>\n
He asserted that all movement on the road \u201ccompletely stopped one week ago\u201d.<\/p>\n
Citizens are demanding that Tawila\u2019s commissioner provides them protection and ensures that traffic can be resumed.<\/p>\n
However, the commissioner responded that civilians should be the ones recruiting protection for themselves and for commercial convoys.<\/p>\n
Residents are accusing a pro-government militia headed by \u201chistorical leader Osman Mohamed Ibrahim\u201d of terrorizing them in their homes, on the streets and on the El-Fasher \u2013Tawila road. <\/p>\n
Militia leader Ibrahim has reportedly signed an internal peace agreement with the government of North Darfur last year.<\/p>\n
Last Sunday, the same pro-government militia led by Ibrahim beat and looted a group of eighteen passengers at the Les Kineh area in Tawila locality. Eight of the passengers suffered severe head injuries.<\/p>\n
Testimonies suggest the gunmen have been stationed on the area for three months.<\/p>\n
Radio Dabanga file photo<\/em><\/p>\n Related<\/em>: Gunmen beat and loot 18 passengers by N. Darfur road<\/a> (27 January 2013)<\/p>\n