January 6, 2025 Nairobi – Darfur24 A number of citizens in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, expressed their dissatisfaction with the failure of the Civil Administration in South Darfur State to curb the killings, looting, robbery, drug and narcotic pills trafficking in the city.
El-Sadig Hasab-
Alrasoul, a citizen of Nyala, revealed to “Darfur24” that he left the city with his family to El-Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, after one of his relatives, Suleiman Mohamed Shomo, who lives in Khartoum-Belail neighborhood, was killed last Monday by unknown persons, without knowing the perpetrators or following up on the procedures for file a report and search for them.
Hasab-Alrasoul indicated that the city is witnessing an unprecedented security chaos, as armed gangs have emerged aiming to loot mobile phones and money, and in the event of resistance, bullets are fired directly without mercy.
Last week, the Civil Administration in South Darfur announced the commencement of the judiciary and legal administration’s work, and the appointment of public prosecutors to manage the court files, following the increase in armed robbery, violence and insecurity in the city.
A member of the judiciary newly appointed by the Civil Administration, who preferred to remain anonymous, told “Darfur 24”: “There are major challenges facing the work of prosecution and judiciary in the coming stage, including financial funding and discrepancy in the legal formulation of judgements, and how to lift immunity from military personnel in Rapid Support Forces to prosecute them like ordinary citizens.”
He pointed out that consultations are still ongoing between the legal department of the Civil Administration, the prosecution and the judiciary to reach understandings before starting work in the coming days.
Motorcycles
A citizen, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed to “Darfur 24” that three people were killed in armed robbery crimes in the city’s neighborhoods in just one week, without reaching the perpetrators.
He stated that citizen Tayib Ahmed was killed in his home in Al-Salam neighborhood for robbery last week, and another citizen was killed in the south of the city, and another in Khartoum neighborhood at night. He continued: “Some armed men who use motorcycles threaten citizens inside neighborhoods and steal their phones at gunpoint, and no one is putting an end to these phenomena. The Civilian Protection Committee can not do its job against these armed men because they move in the streets and densely populated neighborhoods.”
Invitation
A police source at Nyala Central Police Station, who preferred to remain anonymous, unmasked to “Darfur 24” that more than 22 armed robbery crimes were reported inside the neighborhoods, and 19 crimes ocurred against the person during last December.
He added: “The police work lacks detectives, preventive work, and the police fear being killed by armed gangs if they are pursued. The lack of cars, weapons and powers stands as an obstacle for the police.”
He explained that the police custodies hold dozens of suspects on various charges, especially in Nyala Central station, and that the incompleteness of the judicial institutions leads to customary settlements that some perpetrators exploit to repeat crimes in the city.
In turn, a former source in the Central Investigations in South Darfur revealed the growing phenomena of arms, drug and narcotic pills in all markets of Nyala city without accountability or supervision, and with the knowledge of Rapid Support Forces that control the city.
He pointed out to “Darfur 24” that the most prominent markets where weapons, drugs and narcotic pills are bought and sold are El-Geniena Parking Lot market on the western side, Al-Malaja, Gadra, and the Popular market.
He spoke about the inability of the Civil Administration and Rapid Support Forces to stop these markets, despite the efforts made by the Civilian Protection Force, which lacks police work, and the work of the investigation police in performing its entrusted duties, and the failure of all tasks assigned to it to combat negative phenomena, drugs and narcotic pills, and its standing as a spectator to the increasing crimes in the city.
He called on the civil administration and the Rapid Support Forces to seek the help of the Police Forces and former investigation personnel, and support them with equipment and weapons, and issue a decision with full powers to confront the gangs and completely ban motorcycles throughout the state.
Curfew
Last week, the head of the Civil Administration in South Darfur, Mohamed Ahmed Hassan, renewed the decision to impose a curfew inside the city of Nyala for a month, and to restrict the movement of citizens after nine at night until five in the morning, with the exception of medical personnel and emergency humanitarian cases.
The decision prohibited the trade in firearms or carrying them in markets or public gatherings except for official duties, and prohibited the brandishing and displaying of weapons in public and private vehicles, with the prohibition of firing bullets at public and private events.
The order prohibited the roaming of motorcycles within the city of Nyala, and directed the arrest of persons suspected of participating in a crime related to the emergency.
The decision stressed the prohibition of the trade in drugs and all psychotropic substances, their promotion, carrying, use or consumption in all ways, and the prohibition of tinting all vehicles except the constitutional and members of the security committee.
The Rapid Support Forces took control of the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, since October 2023, after fierce battles with the Sudanese Army that ended with the latter’s withdrawal from the city.
The Rapid Support Forces formed the Civil Administration of South Darfur State last June.