JEM accuses government militias of attacking villages In North Darfur
December 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Justice and Equality Movement(JEM) has condemned the “retaliatory attacks” waged by government militias on villages in North Darfur State, urging the hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) to enforce ” its mandate in the region.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Bilal said that the residents of those areas had been forced into displacement through a carefully planned government policies seeking to force out the citizens “in continuation of its encroached land policy”.
He said armed men riding armed vehicles had attacked the villages of Anka and Umrai in the locality of Kutum on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding a number of citizens.
“ While forcefully condemning these attacks by government militias , JEM urges the United Nations and its peacekeeping mission to shoulder its responsibility of protecting the citizens who face the worst of repression and displacement,’’ said Bilal.
The rebel official further urged the international community and right groups to visit the affected areas to asses losses of life and properties.
“JEM holds the leaders of the regime , both at the central and regional levels completely responsible for these acts and calls for bringing them to book sooner or later,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government of North Darfur State announced the removal of what it termed ‘’unlawful gates’’ erected on roadways to collect taxes in the Waha locality .At the same time the Government has reopened the roads linking the al-Fashir, Kutum and Kabkabiyya localities.
The Waha locality commissioner Idris Musa has disclosed that arrangements had been made to reopen banks as well as a number of service utilities. He said his locality was secure and was seeing good presence of government authority.
Musa told the pro-government Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) the security procedures taken by his government had targeted the prevention of frictions among farmers and pastoralists through the drawing of pathways for livestock.
(ST)