Sudanese gov’t militia besieges stronghold of Darfur tribal leader Musa Hilal
November 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) – Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) Monday said his fighters are surrounding Saraf Omra area, the headquarters of the tribal leader Musa Hilal in North Darfur state.
The higher committee for the collection of weapons and unregulated vehicles started the forcible phase of the campaign in all the states of Sudan on 15 October.
On 11 October, 10,000 RSF militiamen arrived in North Darfur to contribute to establishing security in the troubled state and support the mandatory phase of the disarmament campaign.
Hilal refused to cooperate with the disarmament campaign and also rejected a government demand to merge his Border Guards Force (BGF) militia with the RSF.
The official news agency SUNA Monday quoted Daglo as saying the RSF is currently surrounding Saraf Omra area, adding his militiamen are carrying out their duty to defeat the outlaws and clean all Darfur areas.
He pointed out that things are going according to the weapons collection plan, saying the RSF seized more than 500 unregulated motorcycles and arrested 50 outlaws in the locality of Kutum and some area in North Darfur state.
In a report released on 9 November, the Washington based Enough Project warned that the disarmament campaign could increase the risk of armed confrontation, as the government targets only the tribal gunmen who threaten the regime’s hegemony.
“Darfur faces a dangerous military standoff, with a disarmament campaign by Sudan’s government, increasing the risk of armed conflict and mass violence,” says Enough’s new report titled “Ominous Threats Descending on Darfur”.
Recently, Daglo stated that they do not intend to fight Musa Hilal stressing they belong to the same Darfur Arab tribes. However, he said they are determined to clear the western Sudan region of unauthorized weapons.
He was angered by the formation of the RSF because the government promoted Daglo who was one of his aides to command this new militia, a move that he considers as a direct threat to his tribal authority.
Hilal left the capital Khartoum in mid-2013 and retreated to his hometown of Misteriya in North Darfur along with his troops and continued blasting the government and the ruling National Congress Party.
In 2014, Hilal’s troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kebkabiya, Al-Seraif, and El Waha.
The tribal chief announced the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).
FREEING SWISS AID WORKER
Meanwhile, Daglo revealed the kidnapper of the Swiss humanitarian worker, Margaret Schenkel, was captured by the RSF.
He pointed out that the kidnapper was arrested by the RSF and transferred to El-Fasher, North Darfur capital, saying his fighters stormed his house during a raid against outlaws in the state.
Schenkel had been abducted from her home in El-Fasher by unknown gunmen on 7 October.
In a statement issued last week, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said Sckenkel “was released on 14 November 2017” adding “she is in good health under the circumstances”.
(ST)