Abductions, Killings, Looting and Burning of villages and displacement of civilians near Al-Geneina in West Darfur:

On Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 2020, two villages (Tirta and WaKhair Wajid) belonging to the Mestari Administrative Locality, 40 km southwest of Al-Geneina, in West Darfur came under attack by armed Arab militias belonging to the Raziqat abany Rashid group. The militias shot at residents injuring a number of men, women and children. Four of the civilians were killed. The attackers also looted their properties including cows, sheep, and household goods. They also abducted more than 17 of the villagers who were taken away with them.

Those kidnapped include:

1- Sharif Khamis Gamma

2- Jamal Adam Mohammed

3- Yasser A rabab Mohammed

4- Abdu Yagoub (Dera)

5- Abdul Baqi Hassan Adam

6- Gasim Adam Ibrahim

7- Gamar

8- Isaac kdaqar

9- Isaac Yagoub Ibrahim

10- Abdul Rahma

Civili.ans killed include:

1- Abbas Mohammed Ali

2- Khamis Adam Ismail

Names of the injured are:

1- Khamis Mohammed

2- Gemma Adam Ismail

3- Mosab Yousif

4- Saber Hassan Mustafa.

According to eyewitnesses, it was around 8 pm on Saturday May 16, 2020 that a group of armed Arabs riding camels and horses, came from the south side into the villages of Tirta and WaKhair Wajid. They claimed that one of their tribesmen was found dead on the outskirts of the village and accused the villagers of his death.

At the time of the confrontation the villagers were gathered round mourning the death of a member of their own community. They denied all knowledge of the death of the Arab tribesman. However, the first assault on the village started barely 10 minutes after the interaction with the group of Arab men that had gone to the village.

The following day on Sunday May 17, 2020, from around 4 a.m. the village came under a surprise heavy dawn attack by an armed Arab group. This lasted until 12 pm in the afternoon. Unarmed civilians were shot at, a number of houses were burnt and large amounts of animals such as cows, sheep, donkeys and horses as well as household properties were looted. At around 1:00 p.m. a joint force of the army and police from Al-Geneina went to the villages which had been under attack. They proceeded to track the armed Arab militias – Raziqat Alnawayibe, reportedly without any success.

the Arab man was reportedly killed by someone from the two village . later that that day other arabs from his tribe went to the village to question them about the death of the man , which they denied all knowledge .however,the next morning attacked the village .

Sources have since reported that investigations concluded that the dead Arab man had been killed by one of his own tribesmen and that they had instead fabricated information that he was killed by the people in the nearby villagers.

The unprovoked attack against the villages has not only resulted in injury and killing of civilians, damage and destruction of properties, but it has also destabilized the communities, contributed to heightened insecurity, and resulted in the displacement of a number of the villagers to different areas in the West Darfur, Al-geneina. Reports also indicate that some of the victims fled across the border to neighboring Chad.

Darfur Network for Monitoring and Documentation (DNMD), however, notes that such incidents remain a worrisome trend and signals increasing insecurity involving armed Arab militias in various parts of Darfur. As a result, members of the civilian population remain in fear for their lives due to such attacks.

DNMD appeals to the Government of Sudan and local authorities in Al Geinena to ensure the protection of civilians particularly women and children, who continue to be the main victims of such incidents by armed militias in West Darfur.