Email
Print
Save
November 8, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – A United Nations-African Union verification team has reported that a North Darfur village was totally abandoned by its inhabitants following a recent attack carried by a pro-government militia.
- Properties left behind by the population of Sigili, North Darfur, who abandoned the village due to the attack by an armed force last Friday, 2 November. (UNAMID)
On 2 November militiamen attacked Sigili, a village inhabited by Zaghawa ethnic group located at 40 kilometres southeast of Al Fasher, North Darfur State. According to the African Union, United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNAMID, 10 people were killed. But Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the death toll reached 13 people.
A UNAMID team reached the village on 6 November to verify reports about this attack. Previously on 3 November, Sudanese police prevented a UNAMID team from attaining Sigili.
"The team found Sigili village completely deserted, with apparent signs of an abrupt departure," UNAMID said in a statement released on Thursday.
"It also noticed several signs of destruction of housing and property, killed animals, and burnt houses," the release added, stressing the ammunition was founded in different parts of the village to indicate the extent of the attack.
Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the assailants who are members of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF), belong to the Berti tribe, another African ethnic group in the region but are at enmity with the Zaghawa.
The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement of Minnin Minnawi said the attackers aimed to dislodge the villagers from the land where they are settled.
The Sudanese army broke its old alliance with Darfur Arab groups who participated in the counter-insurgency attacks of 2003-2005 where militias committed atrocities and war crimes against Darfur civilians.
UNAMID said another verification team sent to Abu Delek village, at 60 kilometres southeast of Al Fasher – to verify a similar attack - was stopped by members of the Popular Defence Forces.
The militiamen, according to UNAMID, stopped the convoy and insisted on searching its nine vehicles, before the team decide to return to Al-Fasher.
This was the second time that the peacekeepers decide to cancel their visit to Abu Delek. On 25 October a UNAMID convoy heading to the area came under heavy gunfire from a group of unknown gunmen.
(ST)
Latest Comments & Analysis
Toward viable future for South Sudan 2021-02-23 06:27:19 A critique of ICG’s Africa Report No. 300, 10 February 2021 Dr Lam Akol The International Crisis Group (ICG) issued its Africa Report No.300 on 10 February 2021. The report attempts to address (...)
18th anniversary of armed struggle in Darfur 2021-02-23 05:21:00 By Mahmoud A. Suleiman This article comes against the backdrop of the equal participation of members belonging to the armed struggle movements from the Darfur region in ministerial positions and (...)
Museveni proposal for political ethnicization in South Sudan is wrong prescription 2021-02-06 07:40:14 By Steve Paterno I just came across a video clip of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda addressing a delegation of the USA and UK on the situation about South Sudan. The meeting took place (...)
MORE