Killings of Displaced Civilians in North Darfur

Killings of Displaced Civilians in North Darfur United Nations

10 May 2016
At least five civilians killed, including two children, during shooting at IDP camp in North Darfur

At least five civilians were killed, including two children and an Ethiopian peacekeeper, on Monday during an attack from the Jebel Marra at  a camp for internally displaced persons  in North Darfur.  According to the African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) the shooting took place over cattle-raiding in the market area in Sortoni. Tensions in the area have been escalating since early May when nomadic herders accused members of the displaced community of stealing livestock and demanded return of their cattle.  Since early 2016, increased hostilities between Sudanese government forces and the Abdul Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Army have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes to other areas in Darfur, such as Sortoni.   

UNAMID peacekeepers said they arrested two gunmen who will be handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Kabkabiya.

In a joint statement, The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the attacks by armed groups, expressing serious concern over the recent escalation of tension between armed groups and the IDPs  in the area.  Calling on both groups to refrain from the use of violence and resolve their disputes through dialogue, both Dlamini-Zuma and Ban urged the Sudanese authorities to investigate and promptly bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, to continue to implement UNAMID's mandate of maintaining security and protect civilians across Darfur.


To read more, visit:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53897#.Vzjb89ekThO
http://allafrica.com/stories/201605130357.html
http://mini.iol.co.za/news/africa/un-dlamini-zuma-condemn-darfur-attacks-2021241
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article58925

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