Omdurman, March 21( Darfur 24)On Thursday, the Emergency Lawyers Group condemned the looting of citizens’ homes in the old neighborhoods of Omdurman by individuals affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces, saying that what happened was a war crime according to international law.
The group said in a statement that, after the army took control of it, the neighborhoods of the old city of Omdurman were subjected to widespread looting of civilian homes by members of the armed forces and other groups at gunpoint, according to testimonies and eyewitnesses in the area.
The neighborhoods also witnessed complete and partial damage and destruction, according to photos published by citizens in these neighborhoods as a result of the battles between the two sides, according to the statement.
He pointed out that, “Since the outbreak of the April 15 war, civilians have suffered from widespread looting of their cash, mobile phones, furniture, gold belongings, and private vehicles by individuals affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces and armed individuals in areas controlled by the army. Markets for stolen goods have been established in areas including the Halayeb Market, west of the Karrari locality, and the Sabreen Market.” In Omdurman, Napata Market in Bahri City, Al Wahda Market in East Nile Locality, and other separate areas in the capital, Khartoum.”
The statement stressed that trespassing on private civilian property is considered a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, noting that international humanitarian law considers the widespread destruction of property without military necessity and in an unlawful manner, a crime and a violation of international legitimacy.
The statement called on the two warring parties to remove civilian funds and abide by the rules of international humanitarian law.
The “Aburov Resistance Committees” accused members of the Sudanese army of looting citizens’ belongings from their homes in the old neighborhoods of Omdurman, due to the army’s control over the region.
Police spokesman Brigadier General Fath al-Rahman Muhammad Tom also confirmed that reports of thefts had been registered with the police in the old neighborhoods of Omdurman, noting the presence of a joint raft and outposts in a number of neighborhoods to contain the thefts.