⁍ Gunmen from an unidentified militia attacked a village in the Sudanese state of South Darfur.
⁍ Attackers on horseback and camels opened fire on villagers in the Um Doss area.
⁍ The incident follows recent violence by militias in North Darfur.
– “Militias attacked us and took over our land years ago … and now they want to kick us out of our homes and farms once again,” one witness tells Reuters. “Where is the government and why has it not come to protect us?” At least 20 people were killed and 22 injured when gunmen on horseback and camels attacked the village of Um Doss in Sudan’s South Darfur state on Saturday. The incident follows recent violence by militias in North Darfur, which prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency on July 13. Conflict started in Darfur in 2003 after mostly non-Arab rebels rose up against the Khartoum government. Government forces and mainly Arab militia, which moved to repress the revolt, were accused of widespread atrocities. Some 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, according to UN estimates. Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s ousted leader, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity in the troubled Darfur region. Civilian state governors were appointed this week for the first time since Bashir was toppled, a key demand of protesters hoping for more stability.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-violence/gunmen-kill-at-least-22-villagers-in-south-darfur-locals-say-idUSKCN24Q0JJ