Recent Deadly Attacks Terrorize Hai-Alshati District of Al-Geneina

November 5, 2006

An early morning attack on a home in Al-Genina on October 22 resulted in the death of a young mother. Neighbors and residents of the home, which is located in the Hai-alshati district, reported that six men wearing government army uniforms and driving a white Toyota awakened the occupants at gunpoint. People inside the home cried out, “Janjaweed harami!” (“Janjaweed looters!”), at which point the assailants fired their guns in the air in order to keep the neighbors at bay.

Sofia al-Amin, 29, died in the course of attack. According to her two sisters, who were present with her at the time, the cause was an apparent heart attack due to shock. Ms. al-Amin was pregnant, and left behind two children aged 3 and 5.

The surviving victims and neighbors said that they recognized the attackers as members of the local Janjaweed militia, even though they were wearing government uniforms.

Two weeks later in the same district, a drive-by shooting claimed the lives of three men. Shortly after sunset on November 3, uniformed men riding in a camouflage-colored Landcruiser opened fire on a group of men who were congregating outside their homes, drinking tea and coffee. Bishara Altahir, a local merchant from the Zagawa tribe, was killed along with two other men from the Guran tribe. Another unidentified man was severely injured. The attack was witnessed by a passerby and three neighbors, who took the victims to Al-Genina Main Hospital.

The reason for the attack was unknown, though witnesses suspect that the attackers believed the victims were collaborating with local rebels. They further stated that the camouflage Landcruiser used by the attackers was of the same kind used by the Sudanese military.