Four civilians killed by SLA-MM rebels in South Darfur
March 19, 2013 (LONDON) – UK-based charity the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) has condemned the killing of four civilians in South Darfur by forces from the Sudan Liberation Army, loyal to leader Minni Minawi (SLA-MM), calling on the rebel group to bring those officers responsible to justice.
The four civilians from the nomadic Rizeigat tribe were apparently killed in cold blood on 15 March when forces from the SLA-MM, who had been involved an unsuccessful pursuit of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), attacked their encampment south-east of Beleil, about 35 km from the state’s capital Nyala, SUDO (UK) said on its website.
Meanwhile, another nine civilians are reportedly missing after apparently being forced to join the SAF during a separate attack in the area on 14 March. SUDO (UK) said it appeared that four of the nine missing had been taken prisoner as some of them spoke on the phone with relatives.
According to the charity, the Sudanese government last week attempted to mobilise Arab tribes to join the army in attacking an SLA-MM camp in Angoga, 150km south of Nyala on the way to Giraida in South Darfur.
Although the large-scale mobilisation failed, an unknown number of individuals accompanied the army which attacked and captured the rebel camp on the 14 March.
However, the following day, SLA-MM forces counter-attacked the government army and re-took the camp, chasing the withdrawing SAF soldiers up to the village of Galdi, near to Beleil, where they subsequently turned back due to the government army presence in the area. It was as they were returning that they attacked the nomadic settlement.
SUDO (UK) called on forces from the joint African Union and United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) to intervene proactively to ensure that civilian lives are protected.
It also urged the Sudanese government to ensure that civilians are not forcibly recruited to take part in armed conflict, adding that detainees must be released immediately and those responsible brought to justice.
In recent days, SUDO (UK) says there has been a large build of Reziegat tribal members in Umdawanban, east of Beleil, who are believed to be gathering to take revenge for the killings.
South Darfur has been the scene of heavy fighting between the SAF and SLA-MM forces in recent weeks, with both sides battling to gain control of the state.
Some 4,000 people have reportedly been displaced after their villages were destroyed by aerial bombings by the Sudanese air force, after hostilities erupted last week, sources told Radio Dabanga.
There have been divergent reports of casualties, with an SAF spokesman saying 100 rebels were killed in two battles last week south of Nyala, while the SLA-MM claimed 170 soldiers and 90 militia were killed.
In a press release quoted on Radio Dabanga’s website, the opposition National Umma Party (NUP), condemned the ongoing battles in South Darfur, saying poor security in the state had led to an “uninterrupted series of terrorism and anarchy”.
The statement also criticises the inability of the South Darfur government to curb hostilities, saying raids, kidnappings and blackmail are being carried out in broad daylight with apparent impunity.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the conflict in Sudan’s troubled western region, where ongoing violence continues to take a terrible human toll.
The United Nations has estimated that around 300,000 people have died during the conflict in Darfur, while some 2 million people have been displaced. Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)