| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa Horn |
| Darfur attacks displace 12,000, kill more than 40 |
| 2008-10-26 |
| Violence near a south Darfur flashpoint displaced 12,000 people and killed more than 40 civilians when Arab militia attacked Sudanese villages, aid workers and a rights watchdog said on Saturday. Precise details on who was behind the fighting, the extent of damage and casualties remain elusive because humanitarian missions cannot access the area around Muhagiriya, east of the South Darfur state capital of Nyala. "At least 15 villages were attacked and burnt, and about 12,000 people displaced," one international aid worker told AFP on condition of anonymity. The United States-based organisation, Human Rights Watch, said more than 40 civilians were killed between October 5 and 17, and thousands fled their homes. It quoted unnamed local sources as saying government-backed Arab militias attacked more than 13 villages and settlements around Muhajariya, burning homes and stealing livestock in operations against rebel forces. "I've seen reports of between 40 and 70 dead. There has been some assessment down there but probably not enough to be sure about how many were killed," said an aid worker, speaking on condition of anonymity. Arab militia attacks around Muhagiriya were reported on October 12 by members of the deeply fractured rebel group the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM). Human Rights Watch said ongoing fighting, which has also carried on for weeks in North Darfur, underscored the inability of the under-deployed African Union and United Nations peacekeeping operation to protect civilians. No one from the government in Nyala or the Sudanese military responded to telephone calls from AFP on Saturday. The violence goes against a new peace initiative launched by President Omar Al Beshir on October 16, at a ceremony attended by regional dignitaries but by none of the rebels involved in the nearly six-year war. The Sudanese head of state could face an international arrest warrant for alleged genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. His regime wants the UN Security Council to suspend any world court legal proceedings. Aid officials said fighting was reported between the 'Arab' Maaliya tribe and the 'African' Zaghawa, and SLM rebels clashing with Arabs, but did not know to what extent the Arabs operated independently or for the government. |
| Posted by:Fred |