Radio Dabanga was informed on Tuesday 11 September, that citizens from Kutum, North Darfur, are facing difficulties since a state of emergency was announced a week ago. According to the decision, law enforcement services must withdraw Kutum for security reasons, but now residents say they do not know who can support them in settling legal disputes.

Osman Mohamed Yusuf Kibir, the Governor of North Darfur, announced a state of emergency in Kutum on 5 September. As part of his measure, the Governor ordered that the police, the Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira), and the executive and judiciary forces withdrew Kutum. Besides, he appointed Brigadier Mohammad Kamal Mohamed Nur as the administrative and executive supervisor of Kutum and El-Waha localities.

Citizens from Kutum told Radio Dabanga that since law enforcement services’ withdrawal, they do not know where to file complaints and they said there is no court available to settle disputes. Citizens stressed it is their right to have access to legal services according to the constitution.

Lawyers and activists from Kutum appealed to the government to return law enforcement services to the city.

On a different note, Radio Dabanga was informed that since Monday 10 September, schools and markets in Kutum are beginning to resume their activities. Sources said that despite the calm and security that began to prevail in Kutum, the population still lives in fear.

Fato Borno residents still in fear

On the same day, residents of the Fato Borno camp, told Radio Dabanga that the recent measures taken by the Governor of North Darfur did not yet improve security nor stability in the area. A leader from the camp said the situation will only improve once border guards and the Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira) permanently leave Kutum and surroundings.

A Fato Borno camp’s leader explained to Radio Dabanga that displaced persons cannot move freely outside the camp to go farming, shopping, and fetching water and firewood. He said they still fear being attacked by militias if they leave.

The camp’s leader called upon UNAMID to escort and protect camp’s residents when they must leave the area to carry out their activities.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/35657

Onlookers said that on Tuesday 11 September, two pro-government militia raped a woman and a child from Kassab camp, North Darfur. They added that two other women were beaten repeatedly by the men when trying to escape.

A camp’s activist and a resident said the victims were on their way to work in the morning on a farm outside the camp when the two men, wearing military uniforms, attacked them. They claimed the men, on camels, belong to the Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira). The sources said that two women manged to flee, after being severely beaten by the men, and the other two victims were raped by both men.

Radio Dabanga was told that the Sudanese military forces and UNAMID brought the victims to a Kutum hospital for treatment.

Also on Tuesday, sources told Radio Dabanga that the same pro-government militia assaulted two displaced women inside their farms, near Kassab camp. They said the two victims were beaten with whips and that one ended with a broken hand and the other with head injuries.

The source appealed to families not to let their daughters leave the camp area to avoid them from being attacked. He asked that victims immediately report rape cases to the police. The source added that rape victims must always seek treatment, as they are prone to many diseases and need to be medicated.

Northeast of Kutum

When speaking to Radio Dabanga on Sunday, 9 September, sources accused border guards and the Sudanese Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira) of raping two women in Wadi El-Naam and El-Sudd areas, northeast of Kutum.

They added that besides attacking the women, border guards and Abu Tira forces looted local citizens’ properties and destroyed their livestock.

Adam Saleh Abaker, spokesman of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)-Minni Minnawi, confirmed the occurrence of these incidents to Radio Dabanga. He added that border guards and Abu Tira threatened to kill the citizens who attempted entering their farms to chase away their livestock.

Abaker warned that those who committed these crimes will face consequences to their actions, which he described as brutal. He added the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), of which the SLM is a member, will not remain silent against such abuses.

Related content: More than 20 women and girls raped at Kassab camp (22 August 2012)

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/35658