Um Ruwaba, April 22 (Darfur24)
Elements affiliated with the Sudanese army carried out a raid on camps of nomadic herders near Um Ash and Abu Sharqila, southeast of Um Ruwaba in North Kordofan State, on Sunday, resulting in alleged abuses and looting, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
The raid reportedly followed accusations that the herders were cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are engaged in ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army.
Videos circulated on social media, said to be from the scene, show armed men in army and police uniforms interrogating women and whipping them alongside children.
Journalist Mohamed Al-Baqi told Darfur24 that members of his family were among those affected. “A woman was shot while she was with her family, and a child was injured in the leg,” he said, adding that several women and children were subjected to whipping “in a very humiliating manner.”
He said the raid also involved large-scale looting of livestock and valuables, including approximately 185 camels, 20 dromedaries, and 230 goats and sheep, as well as gold jewelry estimated at around half a kilogram. According to him, the seized property was taken to the army garrison in Um Ruwaba.
Al-Baqi added that when the victims later attempted to recover their property, they found significant losses, with only 135 camels remaining out of more than 205, and none of the confiscated jewelry had been returned.
He said victims attempted to file a complaint at the police station in Um Ruwaba, but their request was rejected, and authorities declined to accompany them to the site to investigate.
The National Umma Party condemned the incident in a statement, saying, “The attack launched by forces from the army and allied militias on the villages and settlements of the Shanabla in the rural areas of Um Ruwaba and Al-Rahad resulted in the martyrdom of several citizens and the looting of their money and property, including thousands of head of livestock, in repeated and serious violations.”
The party added that “the warring parties do not pay the slightest attention to the lives of innocent civilians who have no connection to the conflict, but rather continue to target them and commit more violations against them on a daily and systematic basis.”
Darfur24 was unable to obtain an immediate response from the Sudanese army regarding the allegations.