Darfur News Updates for June 2009

        
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy regretfully reports the following three attacks in Darfur since mid-June:.

 June 17, 2009- Four armed men in uniform attacked and brutally murdered Mr. Ali Yagoub while he was riding his motorcycle near el-Etihad High School for girls in el-Radeef district in el-Fashir, according to three eye witnesses from the area. The men reportedly stole Mr. Yagoub’s motorcycle and drove away in a white Toyota semi-truck around seven p.m.
 According to Damanga’s sources, no evidence has been found to explain the attack on Mr. Yagoub. Instead, it appears that he is one of the many Darfuris that have been randomly attacked by Janjaweed forces. Mr. Yagoub, husband and father of six children, was a member of the Tarjam tribe, an ethnic minority group from the Southern Darfur region.

 June 20, 2009- Two men in uniform who were seen driving a Toyota Landcruiser pick-up reportedly interrogated and murdered Mr. Gafaar Sani, an intelligence officer, and raped his wife around nine p.m. in the el-Radeef district in el-Fashir. The couple was walking when they were attacked.
 Damanga sources indicate that the Janjaweed attacks were a result of Mr. Sani’s “unpopular” position on the conflict in Darfur. Mr. Sani was a member of the Housa tribe.

 June 27, 2009- Three unmarked, armed Janjaweed militiamen attacked, robbed, and murdered Mr. Taha Nourain around two p.m. in the Thoura district of el-Fashir. According to Damanga sources, the militiamen robbed 8 million Sudanese pounds (equivalent to four thousand USD) from Mr. Nourain, a member of the Fellata tribe.

 Damanga will continue to follow and report all information and news regarding the Janjaweed campaign throughout Darfur. Janjaweed actions seem directly linked to the upcoming elections. The attacks evidently target non-Arab intellectuals or opposition leaders.