Mass Killing Prompts Deadly Protests in Al-Geneina

December 13, 2006

AL-GENEINA. A refugee convoy was attacked on Saturday, December 9, by members of the Janjaweed militia while on its way to the town of Sirba, located approximately 30 km north of Al-Geneina, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people. On Sunday, a protest held in response to the attack turned violent, claiming at least three more lives.

According to eyewitnesses and relatives of some of the people killed, a large truck carrying goods, medical supplies, and people was approached by at least three local Janjaweed members at around 11am local time. The attackers, who were riding camels and horses, fired on the vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade. The resulting explosion killed several merchants and at least seven teachers who were riding on top of the truck. In addition, some people were burned alive and others were shot by the attackers as they tried to escape.

The bodies of the dead and wounded were brought to Al-Geneina hospital, where government troops set up blockades and prevented most visitors from entering. Witnesses reported that the troops cited concerns over potential riots, and only allowed entry to immediate family members of victims.

On the morning following the attack, a group of approximately 200 people gathered at the hospital and marched to the African Union (AU) troop encampment located between Ardamata refugee camp and Al-Geneina. The crowd was composed of relatives and friends of the victims of the truck attack, in addition to student activists and refugees from camps in the area. When protesters surrounded the barracks, AU troops opened fire, resulting in 3 deaths and at least 4 injuries among the angry crowd.

Participants in the march said that they were marching to voice their frustration over the AU’s failure to prevent or respond to the attack. In an interview on Monday after AU troops fired on the protesters, one man who was present during the attack said that AU were killers and were acting as allies of the government and Janjaweed.

Eyewitnesses report that the Sudanese army sent six helicopter gunships to Al-Genina Airport following the deadly demonstration. The helicopters have been conducting aerial patrols over the area since Sunday afternoon. The government also set up roadblocks on main streets throughout the area to constrain protesters and force them to disperse.

In other news reports, AU representatives have issued statements of regret over the incident and have said that their troops were acting in self-defense. The Sudanese government has issued a statement saying that rebels in the area were responsible for attacks on the truck, and that government troops were deployed to protect AU troops from protesting civilians.