Saraf Omra, February 2 (Darfur24)
Residents of Saraf Omra, a town west of El Fasher in North Darfur State, reported a surge in violence and armed robberies on Sunday, accusing armed men wearing Rapid Support Forces (RSF) uniforms of being responsible for the incidents.
Sulaiman Ahmed Sulaiman, a resident of the town, told Darfur24 that Saraf Omra witnessed a series of security incidents throughout January, including killings and armed robberies allegedly carried out by armed groups from South Sudan and the Central African Republic fighting alongside the RSF.
He said residents now avoid moving around the town after midday, fearing robbery or being shot if they attempt to resist the perpetrators.
A community leader in Saraf Omra, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Darfur24 that men wearing RSF uniforms have been looting civilians’ belongings in the town.
He said a robbery incident on Saturday left a resident, Abubakr Yahya, injured after he was robbed at gunpoint, allegedly by two individuals from South Sudan and the Central African Republic affiliated with the RSF. The victim was later transferred to the rural hospital for treatment.
He added that one of the alleged perpetrators was arrested and confessed to belonging to the RSF under the commander Jamal Mohammed Hussein.
He further said that several killings have occurred without suspects being apprehended, and that dozens of civilians have been subjected to armed robberies, amid what he described as the absence of deterrent measures by the civilian administration, local leaders, or RSF forces controlling the town.
Areas under RSF control in the Darfur and Kordofan regions have recently seen a rise in kidnappings and ransom demands, affecting traders, farmers, and residents.