Recent Animal Thefts Linked to Janjaweed Attacks

October 11, 2006

Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy has learned that in the past week armed Janjaweed militia members have carried out at least five separate attacks against IDPs for the purpose of stealing farm animals. The thefts took place about three kilometers east of Al Geneina in the town of Ardamata, which houses a large contingent of Janjaweed militia members and Sudanese army troops. A small district of Darfurian IDPs is also located in Ardamata.

The first attack occurred just outside the Kerdang IDP camp, around noon on October 06, 2006. Three Janjaweed militia members approached Hajja Fannoua, a 61-year old woman, as she was grazing her goats. When she resisted giving them the goats, they beat her on her head and back.

Fannoua called for help, and two men from the IDP camp came to her assistance. They saw the three attackers escape with 21 goats, but were not able to pursue them. Fannoua was taken to the hospital in Al Geneina, where she remains hospitalized with serious injuries.

Early that Saturday morning, at around 1 AM, a group of five Janjaweed attacked Addom Younis at his home, which is located about 1.5 miles from the Ardamata government offices. The attackers fired shots into the air and left with four of Younis' cows. Younis' daughter Hassina called for help, but received no assistance from local authorities.

The same group of Janjaweed also stole six cows from a neighbor of Younis, Ahmed Wadi. Another neighbor, Alfaky Shearfedin, was also robbed of six cows after the militia members broke into his house. Both thefts were carried out after the militia members fired shots into the air to frighten the residents.

That night, at around 11 PM, two Janjaweed members entered an IDP camp located less than one mile east from Ardamada. A man who is identified only by his first name, Yahya, had his horse stolen after the Janjaweed fired shots into the air. It is not clear if they were the same militia members who carried out the Saturday morning attacks using the same tactic.

Yahya reported that he and others from the refugee camp asked the camp guards for help, but were told to go to the African Union for help. African Union troops have been stationed in Darfur, supposedly for peacekeeping, but have been notoriously ineffective.

Janjaweed members recently stated that they will never allow blacks to own animals and that they will confiscate all animals, even chickens! While the Janjaweed have been carrying out such thefts for a long time, these recent attacks are reportedly the first time militia members have entered towns and gone to individual homes for that purpose. These attacks show that the Janjaweed are engaged in a systematic campaign to dispossess Darfurians of their property.

Damanga Coalition condemns these and all other attacks as well as the refusal of Sudanese authorities to assist victims. Damanga Coalition strongly urges the international community to persist in efforts to send an effective peacekeeping force to the region.