The headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Mission in Darfur, “UNAMID”, 10 km north of the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, was subjected to widespread robbery and looting by citizens.
Darfur 24 Spotted Hilux vehicles and “Tokok” motor cycles loaded with furniture, electrical equipment and wood planks on their way from the mission headquarters to Nyala city through Draig and Attash IDP camps as well as the neighborhoods of Nyala city.
In a related development, Sources said that, the looting was carried out with the help of the forces in charge of guarding the premises. Meanwhile, Darfur24 correspondent observed, on Friday morning, that cars and vehicles loaded with furniture publicly entering the city of Nyala without being intercepted by any government forces.
Last October, the premises was officially handed over to the Sudanese government by UNAMID following the latter’s closure of program in Nyala. However, according to the agreement between the Sudanese government and the United Nations, the premises should be used for civilian purpose, subsequently, it was handed over to the University of Nyala .
Last Thursday a government official told Darfur24 that looting began several days ago, and that the state authorities are aware of the theft and looting of the mission premises.
Sources said that an officer with the rank of colonel is the one who made secret calls to the Internally Displaced People( IDPs) to loot the headquarters, on the pretext that they are the most vulnerable segment of the society who have suffered the most from the crisis in Darfur, and that ,the headquarters assets are a legitimate target for them.
Young people in Draij IDP camp chanting “ we are heading to Yemen, we are heading to Yemen”, indicating that they are going the mission premises to steal valuable items that make them rich like the Rapid Support Force’s affiliates who have been to Yemen. Meanwhile, large numbers of citizens from the city of Nyala seen on Friday morning heading towards the mission HQs that located north of Nyala city.