Darfur: Armed Militia attack on Karamagay village, North East Nyala

On 13 April 2006, armed militias on horses and camels, numbering more than five hundred attacked and looted Karamagay village in North East Nyala, Southern Darfur State. During the attack, the militias killed 15 people and wounded 11 others. The militias also looted over 517 cows, 850 sheep, 720 goats, 22 horses, 60 donkeys and 8 camels. According to the villagers, who belong largely to the Birgid tribe, the attackers originate from Niteaga, Shearia province, Southern Darfur state.

The details of the persons killed and wounded are as follows:

Killed

1. Adam Ibrahim Riyas, (43 yrs)

2. Ahmed Musa Hamdan, (32 yrs)

3. Alshaikh Adam Dood, (60 yrs)

4. Fatima Abdella Dam, (28 yrs), F

5. Hassan Adam, (30 yrs)

6. Ibrahim Alzain Ahmed, (40 yrs)

7. Ishag Abaker, (55 yrs)

8. Omer Abaker Osman, (60 yrs)

9. Osman Ali Musa, (45 yrs)

10. Rasha Mohamadain Adam, (15 yrs), F

11. Saif Aldean Abdel Rahman Hassan, (28 yrs)

12. Soulieman Abdella Tairab, (38 yrs)

13. Soulieman Musa Mohamed, (33 yrs)

14. Yagoub Ibrahim Hamdan, (35 yrs)

15. Yahya Mohamed Yahya, (28 yrs)

Injured

1. Abdella Ali Dawood, (32 yrs)

2. Adam Ali Adam, (60 yrs)

3. Adam Ishag Abaker, (30 yrs)

4. Adamo Adam Dood, (14 yrs)

5. Ahmed Abooh Tairab, (65 yrs)

6. Ashia Abdella Adam, (14 yrs), F

7. Fatima Osher Bourma, (25 yrs), F

8. Hawa Bakheet, (33 yrs), F

9. Mohamadain Adam Shoumo, (35 yrs)

10. Mohamed Alhadi Mohamed, (6 yrs)

11. Om Alhassan Mohamed Adam, (30 yrs), F

Background

There has been armed militia, allegedly the Janjaweed militias’ presence in Shearia since November 2005, when the town emerged as the new front for confrontations between government forces and the rebel opposition groups in Darfur. The government strategy of shifting the war to the town began in early September 2005, following the Sudan Liberation Army, (SLA) attack in Shearia town during which the rebel forces looted approximately 1,000 camels and reportedly killed 18 civilians.

The government in response encouraged armed militias to amass in the area and to implicitly allow the Janjaweed militias to loot the local population property including their cows, sheep with impunity. In the first week of November 2005, the militias working with Government forces attacked and looted Shearia market. During the attack, shops belonging to persons from the Zaghawa tribe and persons from the Zaghawa tribe were specifically targeted. Following the attack and looting, persons belonging to the Zaghawa tribe fled Shearia town to El Fahal, Otash and Dereig Internally displaced Camps, adding to the already large IDP population in Southern Darfur. The remaining population, largely from the Birgid tribe set up camp near the African Union Camp in Shearia.

Reportedly, the Commander of the Armed Forces Commander in Shearia town is a Mr. Asim Torobora.� Due to continuing fighting between government forces and the SLA and the continuing presence of armed militias, access for aid agencies to the area has been almost impossible. The population in the surrounding areas are in desperate need of food and water, shelter and medicine.

SOAT strongly condemns the continuing terrorisation and attacks on the civilian population in Shearia by both government forces and armed militias and prevention of access for aid organisations in the town to undertake their humanitarian activities.

SOAT stresses that the continued attacks on civilians in Darfur with impunity is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, UNSC resolutions, international laws protecting non-combatants and the spirit of the ongoing peace negotiations in Abuja.

In light of the seriousness and the ongoing nature of armed militias’ attacks on civilians, SOAT calls on the Government of Sudan to:

i. Investigate the attacks on Karamagay village and to ensure that the perpetrators are brought before an impartial tribunal and guaranteed procedural rights at all times;

ii. Investigate the situation in Shearia and the surrounding villages and to immediately disperse the Janjaweed militias and all other militias that are operating the area;

iii. End impunity for crimes committed by government forces and its proxy militias in Darfur;

iv. Ensure safe passage for aid organisations and humanitarian convoys to Shearia;

v. Immediately take all steps required to prevent attacks, threats, intimidations and any other form of violence against the people of Darfur;

vi. Guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

SOAT is an international human rights organisation established in the UK in 1993. If you have any questions about this or any other SOAT information, please contact us:

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