African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies ACJPS | المركز الافريقي لدراسات العدالة و السلام
(24 March 2022) African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) is deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of security in Sudan. In Jebel moon locality in West Darfur, armed attacks by the Arab nomads have continued despite the signing of a non-aggression pact on 9 December 2021 between the Messeria tribe and the Arab nomads. The recent attack on Selea, the capital of Jebel Moon locality has resulted in the killing of 32 people and injury of 15 others. Several houses were also burned down and at least 12,500 people displaced. In Abyi locality, the Messeria tribesmen attacked and killed 27 Dinkas. ACJPS has also documented incidents of robberies in Khartoum.
ACJPS reiterate its calls to Sudanese authorities to:
- Officially and publicly condemn these arbitrary attacks, unlawful killings and injury and make it clear that these acts are absolutely prohibited, and perpetrators will be held to account.
- Launch an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Darfur and guarantee that their findings are published promptly and within a clear timeframe. This investigation should also address conflict-related gender-based violence.
- To immediately prioritize the protection of civilians especially in Darfur region. Put in place tightened restrictions on the use and supply of arms and ammunitions, and a concerted effort to control arms and ammunition in the region should be launched, as well as controls over the use of ammunition and the presence of militias and weapons in public places.
- Ensure that police and law enforcement officers are deployed to ensure security in all the states in Sudan.
ACJPS further calls on the international community to prioritize the protection of civilians and security situation in Darfur and deploy resources to ensure the protection of civilians in the region and assist with independent and impartial investigations of human rights violations with an aim of ensuring accountability.
Armed attacks resume in Jebel Moon
On 4 March 2022, a group of Messeria tribesmen notified the Sudanese Armed Forces(SAF) in Jebel moon about the presence of Rezigate nomads from Awlad Zaid and Awlad Eid villages along with their livestock in one of their villages called Jamina, located about three kilometers South of Selea. SAF officers approached the Rezigate nomads and asked them to leave Jamina village since it was occupied by the Messeria and also to prevent further tension between the two tribes that started in November 2021. The Rezigate nomads complied with the orders of SAF and left Jamina village.
On 5 March 2022, the Rezigate nomads returned to Selea valley (water source for animals) with their livestock. They found eight Messeria women at the valley with their livestock as well. The Rezigate nomads allegedly beat the Messeria women using leather lashes. The Messeria responded by mobilizing 150 members, majority armed with automatic guns who went in search for the Resigate Arabs. The Resigate Arabs had returned to their base in the Eastern Selea, about eight kilometers away from Selea valley. On the same day, the Rezigate Arabs, armed with automatic guns and driving in ten military cars including three with Rapid Support Forces(RSF) numbers plate, and others on eight motorcycles laid an ambush for the Messeria tribesmen. This happened a few hours after the incident with Messeria women at Selea valley. As a result, two Messeria tribesmen were killed whilst nine others were injured and later transferred to Elgenina and Selea hospitals. At least 12 other Messeria tribesmen were reported missing. The Messeria reported the missing persons to SAF. SAF asked the Rezigate Arabs to release the 12 Messeria tribesmen who were reported missing. It is reported that the Rezigate Arabs refused and insisted that their families should come and get them. SAF approached the Rezigate Arabs for the second time and asked them to release the 12 Messeria tribesmen. The Rezigate Arabs gave SAF 12 dead bodies believed to be of the reported missing persons.
On 7 March 2022, the Rezigate nomads, including two in RSF uniform launched an attack on Selea. The attack resulted in the killing of four people from the Messeria tribe and injury of two others. A reliable source informed ACJPS that eleven Rezigate Arabs were killed as well.
On 10 March 2022, the Rezigate nomads launched another attack on Selea from the South East, East and West. As a result, eighteen people belonging to the Messeria tribe were killed and at least six villages were burned down. A reliable source informed ACJPS that a few SAF officers were also killed by the Rezigate nomads during the attack. ACJPS is not aware of any Rezigate nomads killed or injured during the attack.
On 17 March 2022, joint statement by the Norwegian Refugee Council and Save the Children called for an immediate de-escalation of violence in Jebel Moon. Save the Children and other aid agencies have been forced to suspend activities due to the high risk to aid works. This has left thousands of families without life-saving humanitarian support including food assistance, heath services and shelters.
Attacks in Abyi locality
On 6 March 2022, 40 armed men from the Messeria tribe who reside in Abyi locality attacked Madien Toong village located West of Abyi. Madien Toong village is occupied by the Dinka Ngok. The attack resulted in the killing of 27 Dinka Ngoks and injuring of several others who were transferred to Abyi Hospital for treatment. This is the second attack on the Dinka Ngok residing in Abyi in 2022.
The first incident happened on 10 February 2022 at 4:00 pm when about 50 armed men from the Dinka tribe who reside in Warrap state located in South Sudan, in two land Cruiser cars and others marching attack Anet area in Abyi. The attack resulted in the killing of 18 Dinka Ngoks including a child. The attackers burned down Anet market and in the following days proceeded to burn the market of Abyi. This attack came after the administration of Abyi started planning project in both Anet and Abyi occupied by Dinka Ngoks. This proposed project was rejected by the Dinka Rwic who reside in Warrap State but consider themselves part of Abyi. They believed that the project would enable Dinka Ngok to control Abyi through planning and registration of land. On 25 March 2022, South Sudanese government announced that a committee was established to investigate the incident.
Abyi locality is located at the border of Sudan and South Sudan and it is occupied by Messerai on the Northern side and Dinka on South. The 2005 the comprehensive Peace agreement did not decide whether Abyi should be part of Sudan or South Sudan.
Insecurity in Khartoum state
Since 13 March 2022, ACJPS started monitoring the deterioration of security in Khartoum. There are reported incidents of attacks against civilians on the main street, and in public and private vehicles. These attacks have extended to individuals who are not participating in anti- coup rallies. Videos circulation on social media platforms have shown at least four incidents where the police, SAF officers, central reserves police and security personnel in plain uniform stopping both private and public vehicles, and carried out random searches in the cars and on passengers for no reason. In these incidents, security officers have forcefully confiscated money, cell phones and other belongings of car owners and passengers. Sometimes, the occupants of these vehicles are subjected to beating. ACJPS documented the rape of a 19-year-old woman and beating of other passengers after police officers stopped a public vehicle on Almuslamia bridge in Khartoum on 14 March 2022.
While authorities have deployed hundreds of joint government forces on the streets to police assemblies, very few police officers have been deployed to provide protection to civilians from armed robberies that has increased of recent in Khartoum. Khartoum State is witnessing armed robbery cases by civilians on motorcycles without number plates who use guns and knives to threaten victims before looting them. On 21 March 2022, around 02:00pm, a male legal advocate stepped out from his office in Al Riyadh neighborhood of Khartoum and was attacked by two armed robbers on a motorcycle. The robbers took his bag, cellphone and money.
On 18 March 2022, the Communist party announced a public forum at Omdurman Althura neighborhood, square 8. More than 50 people including children attacked the audience of the public forum using locally made teargas and stones. At least 40 people were injured including the Communist party members. The Sudanese Communist party stated that they had requested the police in the area to provide security but they did not come. A case against unknown attackers was later reported to the police.
On 18 March 2022, a tuk tuk rider who resides in Alkadaro neighborhood in Khartoum Bahari was killed by a group of South Sudanese refugees. The incident happened after about 45 South Sudanese refugees attacked residents of Alkadaro neighborhood using metal bars, knifes and sticks with intention of robbing them. Residents of Alkadaro neighborhood responded by burning all the temporary houses occupied by South Sudanese refugees. The temporary houses are located across the railway station from the center of Khartoum Bahri up to the neighborhoods of Alkadaro, Halfaia and Um Algura. The incident started at 9:00am but police did not respond until 12:30pm.
Names of the killed people in the Jebel Moon attack
Killed on 5 March 2022
- Mohamed Omer Abdullah (m)
- Mattar Abdullah Eltahir (m)
Names of the 12 dead bodies of Messeria tribesmen handed over to SAF by the Rezigate Arabs in addition to one of injured people who passed away later.
- Youssef Yagoup Ahmed (m)
- Mohamed Ibrahim Yahiya (m)
- Mohamed Adam Osman (m)
- Omer Abdullah (m)
- Mohamed Yosenes (m)
- Mubarak Adam (m)
- Sabah Jabber
- Jumaa Yahiya Aldoum (m)
- Mubarak Adam (m)
- Sabah Jabber
- Jumaa Yahiya Aldoum (m)
- Radwan Abdullah (m)
- Mohamed Abdullah (m)
Killed on 7 March 2022
1-Adam Abakar (m)
2-Khamis Abakar (m)
Killed on 10 March 2022
- Mohamed Omer Abdullah (m)
- Matter Abdullah Eltahir (m)
- Adam Gamar (m)
- Adam Yagoup (m)
- AL Noor Gisom Allah Ismail (m)
- Aldoum Adam Osman(m)
- Ismail Mohamed Hussein
- Abdullah Yahiya
- Arabi Abakar(m)
- Baker Shagaf (m)
- Abdul Rahman AL Noor Yahiya (m)
- Hafiz Abdullah (m)
- Adam Ishaq Osman(m)
- Adam Osman Hassan
- Youssef Isha Mohamed
- Shurhabiel Yahiya Aldai
- IshaqAbdallah Musa(m)
- Adam ishaq Adam Isa(m)
The injured are:
- Adam Yahiya Idris(m)
- Yahiya Ismail(m)
- Abu Algasim Aynor (m)
- Abakan Abdullah Haren (m)
- Abdul Aziz Yahiya (m)
- Daladoom Aynor (m)
- Abdullah Mohamed Juma (m)
- Yahiya Aldai Zakaria (m)
- Adam Ismail Adam (m)
- Abdu Osman Abdul Aziz (m)
- Yahiya Adam Ismail (m)
- Jamal Musa Ibrahim (m)
- Adam Younies Adam (m)
- Adam Ahmed (m)
Background
Jebel Moon has witnessed successive attacks since November 2021, which have resulted in deaths and injuries and in the displacement of thousands of people. These attacks significantly increased since the exit of United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) on 31 December 2020. In December 2021, ACJPS documented an attack on Jebel Moon by Arab Nomads that left 18 people dead and a renewed attack on 21 December 2021. Following the attacks, the two tribes signed a non-aggression pact but it was disregarding by the Messeria tribesmen on grounds that it does not represent the voice of their community but rather, the will of the signatories.
The departure of the long-running UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur has created a security vacuum as hundreds of thousands flee fresh outbreaks of violence. The new UN political mission, UNITAMS, tasked to support the transitional government, has no mandate to provide physical protection.
The Government of Sudan, which took on the responsibility of providing security in Darfur region, has since failed to protect citizens from these arbitrary attacks by the militia. The only effort by Sudanese government has been the deployment of about 12,000 joint troops (6000 from the Sudanese revolutionary front) in fulfillment of the Juba Peace agreement. These attacks and ongoing insecurity in the region exemplify the loss of control by the government of Sudan of armed militias and the lack of rule of law.
For further information, contact Mossaad Mohamed Ali at: mossaad.ali@acjps.org
