Woman Shot Outside Ardamata Refugee Camp; No Action Taken by AU Troops

November 19, 2006

A woman and three girls were attacked earlier today while returning to the Ardamata refugee camp. The woman, identified as Khadija Abaker, age 40, was shot in the back and is in critical condition.

According to witnesses who asked not to be named, the attack took place in the area of the destroyed village of Milabider, about 15 kilometers directly east of Al-Genina town, at about 12 noon local time. The group had just finished loading their donkeys with firewood and dried grass intended for animal fodder when they were stopped by a member of the Janjaweed militia who was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle.

The man insulted Ms. Abakar and the girls in Arabic, calling them 'khedam' (slave). Ms. Abakar responded in the Massaleit language, at which point he ordered her to speak only in Arabic. It is unclear whether the woman knew how to speak Arabic, but she continued to speak in Massaleit as she and the girls attempted to leave.

The man then shot Ms. Abakar in the back. The girls said that the bullet exited her body below the chest and she fell to the ground.

The remaining girls in the group fled the scene and ran to the African Union barracks in Ardamata camp, where they reported the shooting to the soldiers on duty. Witnesses reported that no African Union troops went to investigate, although they had assured the girls that they would do so.

A resident of the camp, who identified himself only as Mr. Khatir, said that he and three other men went to find the victim. They were able to bring her back to Ardamata in a donkey cart. From there she was transported to Al-Genina hospital, where she remains.

Ms. Abakar is a mother of three. The girls who were accosted with her are aged 16, 19, and 23. The four are related to each other and from the same village, although their exact relationship is unclear.