Armed men loot train in South Darfur

March 27, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A cargo train which was on its way from Nyala, capital of South Darfur state to the city of Daein in eastern Darfur has been attacked by unidentified armed robbers near Khor Taan area which is located 60 km east of Nyala.

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune that the group seized the train’s fuel after firing shots on the engine, thus disabling and destroying large parts of it.

The governor of South Darfur Hammad Ismail Hammad, claimed that the train was attacked by rebels, asking “who they are and what they want?” stressing the need to crack down on those who intend to tarnish Darfur’s image.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

The United Nations estimates as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million people have been displaced during the ongoing conflict in the region, however, the Sudanese government put the number of dead at only 10,000.

While violence is down from its peak in 2003 and 2004, new fighting has forced more than 130,000 people to flee their homes since the start of the year, according to the United Nations.

In December, the outgoing US special adviser for Darfur, Dane Smith, said Sudan had implemented little of the Doha deal, which was hindered by a lack of funding, the failure to disarm militias and attacks on peacekeepers.

(ST)