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| Sudan: Armed groups attack protest camp in Darfur, kill 13 | Sudan: Armed groups attack protest camp in Darfur, kill 13 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| CAIRO — | CAIRO — |
| Sudanese armed groups on Monday attacked a protest camp in the war-scarred Darfur region, killing more than a dozen people, activists said, a day after security forces violently broke up another sit-in in the region. | Sudanese armed groups on Monday attacked a protest camp in the war-scarred Darfur region, killing more than a dozen people, activists said, a day after security forces violently broke up another sit-in in the region. |
| Both protest camps in North Darfur province called for better security conditions and an end to attacks by government-sanctioned armed groups, according to a local organization that helps run displacement camps in the Darfur region. | Both protest camps in North Darfur province called for better security conditions and an end to attacks by government-sanctioned armed groups, according to a local organization that helps run displacement camps in the Darfur region. |
| Sudan’s transitional government is struggling to end decades-long rebellions in different areas of the country, including Darfur, where most people live in displaced and refugee camps. Longtime leader Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown in a popular uprising in April 2019, faces international charges of genocide and crimes against humanity over a scorched-earth campaign against rebels in Darfur in the 2000s. | Sudan’s transitional government is struggling to end decades-long rebellions in different areas of the country, including Darfur, where most people live in displaced and refugee camps. Longtime leader Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown in a popular uprising in April 2019, faces international charges of genocide and crimes against humanity over a scorched-earth campaign against rebels in Darfur in the 2000s. |
| The protesters, mostly internally displaced people and refugees, began their camps about a week ago outside the government buildings in the nearby towns of Kutum and Fata Borno. | The protesters, mostly internally displaced people and refugees, began their camps about a week ago outside the government buildings in the nearby towns of Kutum and Fata Borno. |
| In Fata Borno, government-sanctioned armed groups attacked the protesters and broke up their sit-in, killing at least 13 protesters and wounding 11 others, said Amany Hasabu, an activist in the area. | In Fata Borno, government-sanctioned armed groups attacked the protesters and broke up their sit-in, killing at least 13 protesters and wounding 11 others, said Amany Hasabu, an activist in the area. |
| The Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which spearheaded the protests against al-Bashir, condemned the attack. It said the attackers burned houses and a market, and looted livestock in the area. | The Sudanese Professionals’ Association, which spearheaded the protests against al-Bashir, condemned the attack. It said the attackers burned houses and a market, and looted livestock in the area. |
| The SPA urged the ruling sovereign council to “immediately interfere, stop the attacks and arrest all those who took part and ordered them.” | The SPA urged the ruling sovereign council to “immediately interfere, stop the attacks and arrest all those who took part and ordered them.” |
| The provincial government in North Darfur declared a state of emergency across the province, starting Monday until further notice. It said in a statement that more troops would be deployed to Fata Borno and nearby towns to restore securing and stability. The statement did not provide causalities toll for the violence. | |
| On Sunday, security forces dispersed the protest camp in Kutum, killing at least one protester and wounding a dozen others, including four children, said Yacoub Abdallah, coordinator of displacement and refugee camps in Darfur. | On Sunday, security forces dispersed the protest camp in Kutum, killing at least one protester and wounding a dozen others, including four children, said Yacoub Abdallah, coordinator of displacement and refugee camps in Darfur. |
| The protesters had called for authorities to deploy more security forces to prevent attacks from armed groups on their farms, and to impose a ban on motorcycles and weapons that are used in such attacks. | The protesters had called for authorities to deploy more security forces to prevent attacks from armed groups on their farms, and to impose a ban on motorcycles and weapons that are used in such attacks. |
| Yacoub said police attacked the protesters after they chanted against military and police officials who were visiting the sit-in area to meet with the protesters. | Yacoub said police attacked the protesters after they chanted against military and police officials who were visiting the sit-in area to meet with the protesters. |
| The authorities in Kutum said the violence erupted when a government convoy came under attack after a meeting between security officials and the protesters to discuss their demands. | The authorities in Kutum said the violence erupted when a government convoy came under attack after a meeting between security officials and the protesters to discuss their demands. |
| Mohammed Ibrahim Abdel-Karim, acting governor of North Darfur, said in a statement that security officials, who met with the protesters Sunday, immediately met some of the protesters’ demands and vowed to work on achieving the rest. | Mohammed Ibrahim Abdel-Karim, acting governor of North Darfur, said in a statement that security officials, who met with the protesters Sunday, immediately met some of the protesters’ demands and vowed to work on achieving the rest. |
| The acting governor said the officials left the area on a plane, but that “lawbreakers” wielding stones and knives attacked government vehicles carrying reporters, guards and other officials, forcing them to shelter in a police station in Kutum. | The acting governor said the officials left the area on a plane, but that “lawbreakers” wielding stones and knives attacked government vehicles carrying reporters, guards and other officials, forcing them to shelter in a police station in Kutum. |
| Abdel-Karim said the men then attacked the police station, burning it to the ground, along with a dozen vehicles, including the convoy cars. | Abdel-Karim said the men then attacked the police station, burning it to the ground, along with a dozen vehicles, including the convoy cars. |
| He called the attack “unjustified,” and said authorities were pursuing those behind the violence. He did not provide further details on who was behind the attack. | He called the attack “unjustified,” and said authorities were pursuing those behind the violence. He did not provide further details on who was behind the attack. |
| Footage shared online showed people carrying the wounded, and black smoke billowing out of burning buildings. | Footage shared online showed people carrying the wounded, and black smoke billowing out of burning buildings. |
| Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after the military removed al-Bashir from power last year in the face of mass protests. A military-civilian government is now in power, and al-Bashir has been imprisoned in the capital, Khartoum, since his ouster. | Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after the military removed al-Bashir from power last year in the face of mass protests. A military-civilian government is now in power, and al-Bashir has been imprisoned in the capital, Khartoum, since his ouster. |
| Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. |