The four nomad civilians killed on 15 March 2013 come from the Rizeigat group. Their names are:
Mohammed Khier Yagoub Musa
Musa Tahir
Mohammed Musa Tahir
Abkr Mahmoud
They were in a settlement south-east of Belieil, 35 km from Nyala in South Darfur when forces from the SLA/Mini Minawi, returning after an unsuccessful pursuit of Sudan Armed Forces, attacked their encampment and apparently killed them in cold blood.
Background
Last week the government tried to mobilize Arab tribes to join the army in attacking a camp of SLA-Mini Minawi, in Angoga, 150 km south of Nyala on the way to Giraida in South Darfur. They failed to mobilize tribes but some individuals accompanied the army on its way to attack the SLA/MM camp. On Thursday 14 March 2013 the Sudan Armed Forces atd thtackee rebel camp and captured it. However, the following day, on Friday 15 March, the SLA/MM forces counter-attacked the government army and re-took the camp.
They then chased the withdrawing SAF up to the village of Galdi, near to Beleil, which is 35 km east of Nyala. Since this has a government army presence, the SLA/MM started to return. It was as they were returning that they attacked the nomad settlement south-east of Beleil.
Missing individuals taken in apparent forced recruitment
The following nine people, civilians who appear to have been forced to join the SAF during the attack on Thursday 14 March, are missing:
Habib Zakria Habib
Khalid Ahmed Elsayed
Abdelrahman Gibain
Elamin Ahmed Elsayed
Abaker Ahmed Elsayed
Mukhtar Abdalla
Yousif Alrakhi
Abdalla Eisa Bakheit
Mahmoud Ahmed Elsayed
Elamin Ahmed Elsayed, Abaker Ahmed Elsayed, Abdalla Eisa Bakheit and Mahmoud Ahmed Elsayed are believed to have been taken prisoner by SLA-Mini Minawi, as some of them have talked on the phone with relatives.
Danger to civilians in escalation of conflict in the region
There is a very large build up by the Reziegat in Umdawanban, east of Beleil. These Rizeigat are said to be gathering to take revenge for their dead fellow-tribesman unlawfully killed in the nomad settlement.
SUDO (UK) condemns the killing of civilians by the SLA/MM and calls on the SLA/MM to bring to justice those officers responsible for the killing of civilians.
SUDO (UK) calls on the Government of Sudan to ensure that civilians are not forcibly recruited to take part in armed conflict, to release those recruited immediately and bring to justice those carrying out forced recruitment.
SUDO (UK) calls on SLA/MM to treat all detainees humanely and give them immediate access to the ICRC.
SUDO (UK) calls on the UNAMID forces to intervene proactively to ensure that civilian lives are protected.