At least eight Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were killed, four others injured and nine people were kidnapped on Tuesday in the Kutum locality of Sudan’s North Darfur state according to local officials. A spokesperson for displaced persons and refugees said the attack was carried out by a militia group backed by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces.
The attack occurred after the bodies of two suspected militia men were found in Damir Al Girer Kutum village on Tuesday, said Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the coordination of the displaced and refugees
Janjaweed militia groups supported by the Rapid Support Forces are responsible for the four killings, the eight kidnappings and the burning of nearby villages, said Rijal.
“Based on the preliminary report, the attackers who raided villages came in seven Land Cruiser pickups and more than 20 motorcycles. This incident has caused more displacement to the IDPs in North Darfur,” Rijal told South Sudan in Focus.
Renewed clashes erupted between different groups in the Darfur region more than a year ago shortly after the joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping mission ended its mandate in December 2020.
Rijal condemned this latest attack.
“The human rights violations in Darfur by Janjaweed militia groups have continued against the IDPs and innocent civilians for years. We regard this as organized violations with support from the government. It is part of the burning land project that begun since 2003 up to today,” Rijal told VOA.
The government and various armed groups in Darfur signed a peace deal nearly two years ago, but it did not lead to stability in the region.
Rijal insists Sudan’s military leaders are responsible for the latest killings and are the only ones who can put an end to the ongoing attacks.
“The general coordination of IDPs and refugees in Darfur blame the state and national government and ask them to take the responsibility of such attacks that have been carried out by their militia groups on civilians,” said Rijal, adding, “As long as no one has been brought to justice, such violations encourage criminals to continue committing more human rights violations.”
In April, Darfur authorities said at least 200 people were killed and dozens of others wounded during renewed inter-communal clashes between Arab nomads and local farmers in Kirenik locality of West Darfur state.
