Two East Jebel Marra villages attacked

Two villages in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra came under the attack by militiamen on Wednesday and Thursday. Residents were beaten and robbed.

Two villages in Darfur's East Jebel Marra came under the attack by militiamen on Wednesday and Thursday. Residents were beaten and robbed.

A witness told Radio Dabanga that a group of militant Abbala tribesmen entered Koto and beat or flogged villagers before pillaging their houses and stealing their livestock. He was unable to report the exact number of wounded.

In another incident in the area the next day, militant Abbala attacked Dali. They denied any person entry or exit. A witness believed that their attack came against the backdrop of the discovery of one of their affiliates, dead near the village.

People living near Dali told Radio Dabanga that they heard “continuous firing throughout the day, without us knowing what had happened to the residents of the village”.

The Abbala, camel herders, of the larger Rizeigat tribe live in northern Darfur and Chad, and a number of herders have reportedly over the past two months repeatedly attacked farmers. Starting this week, Abbala fighters have attacked villages and assaulted residents in Kutum locality.