Sudan declares state of emergency in Darfur

SANAA, July 14 (YPA) – Sudan’s authorities have declared a state of emergency in the conflict-torn Darfur region in the west of the country, following violence and unrest in two towns, The Sudanese news agency reported.

UNAMID said it had sent a team to the town of katam in north Darfur state after reports of the burning of a police station and cars by unknown protesters.

One resident said the protesters demanded better security and a civilian government for the state.

On Monday, unidentified militias attacked a sit-in in Fatabrno, a village in the same area, Reuters quoted another resident as saying.

Peaceful sit-ins have begun to appear in cities and towns throughout Darfur and other parts of the Sudan to protest the presence of armed militias.

The conflict in Darfur erupted in 2003 after most non-Arab rebels revolted against the Khartoum government.

Government forces and a predominantly Arab militia mobilized to quell the insurgency were accused of widespread atrocities and genocide.

The United Nations estimates that some 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

The region has not experienced fierce fighting for years, but the conflict has remained unresolved with Arab militias remaining there in territory they control.

The civilian government that has run Sudan with the military in a transitional period since al-Bashir’s ouster has pledged to end the conflict, and is in talks with some rebel groups that have fought against al-Bashir’s government in Darfur and other parts of the country.

E.M