Nyala: Targeting Civilians and Human Rights Activists
Moatinoon
Renewed clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have erupted in Nyala, resulting in casualties in the Wadi neighborhood and Karrari yesterday evening, Thursday.
The Darfur Lawyers Association and its partners stated in a statement on Friday that renewed clashes had taken place in Nyala, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, including two children, and multiple varying injuries.
Local news sources reported that Nyala witnessed the fall of several mortar shells due to the mutual shelling between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Several mortar shells fell on neighborhoods in the Wadi East and Karrari East districts, as well as near the cemeteries and the Abuja neighborhood. As a result of the mortar shelling, the young man Omar Ash-Shafii was killed, his mother and younger brother were injured, and the family of Shaa Al-Deen was also injured to varying degrees. A woman and a young man lost their lives in the Turkish hospital due to their injuries.
The association urged for an immediate cessation of the senseless war and to spare the country further loss of lives and destruction.
Eyewitnesses in South Darfur reported that four civilians were injured by gunfire, and one of them died in Nyala, following an exchange of gunfire between the army and the RSF with light and medium weapons, which lasted from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Human rights sources revealed the looting of the house of the head of the Darfur Lawyers Association in Nyala, and the continuation of violations against human rights defenders. The house of Adam Sharif, the head of the Darfur Lawyers Association in South Darfur, was looted and extensively damaged on Friday evening.
According to close sources, valuables and his vehicle were stolen from the house.
Its worth noting that Sharif was arrested at the RSF headquarters in the Rayiq neighborhood last Thursday and released on the same day, after the RSF forced residents of the Rayiq neighborhood to evacuate their homes. Sharif and his neighbors objected to the evacuation order.
During the past week, several human rights defenders in Nyala have been killed, and others have faced ongoing violations.
The human rights lawyer Ahmed Abdullah Al-Lord was assassinated, along with the employee of an organization, Adam Omar Jad El-Rab, and their bodies were found on the Nyala-El Fashir road today, Friday. Its worth noting that the two deceased were kidnapped in front of their house in the Rahman neighborhood last Thursday using a Land Cruiser (Obama) vehicle. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 30 million Sudanese pounds in the evening of the same day.
The families of the deceased went to the RSF headquarters in Nyala to inquire about them, but they were denied any knowledge of their whereabouts and were told that the kidnappers are criminals not affiliated with them.
According to eyewitnesses from the Rahman neighborhood, the kidnappers were wearing RSF uniforms and were armed with M16 rifles.
Nyala is facing difficult and complicated humanitarian conditions. Many residents complain about the shortage of food due to the closure of the market since mid-April. The Turkish hospital, the only one working, is under immense pressure beyond its capacity to treat the wounded civilians.
On August 3rd of the past year, the UN mission in Sudan expressed deep concern about the serious impact of the fighting between the RSF, supported by Arab militias, and the army on civilians in the Darfur region.
The UN strongly condemned the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and public facilities by the RSF and the allied militias, especially in Sarba locality in West Darfur, Nyala in South Darfur, and Zalingei in Central Darfur.
In its statement, the UN called on all forces involved in military operations to immediately halt their actions and urged all parties to resume negotiations facilitated by Juba. The UN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and facilitating efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict throughout Sudan.
