A train carrying passengers was stopped and searched for weapons by militias in Ed Daein, East Darfur, on Thursday. It was rumoured the train was transporting large quantities of arms and ammunition for the Ma'aliya tribe in Adila locality. Eyewitnesses reported that militiamen robbed several shops in Ed Daein during the search.

The militiamen beat the commander of the second garrison in Ed Daein, the capital city of East Darfur, a witness said. They also beat his bodyguards as they tried to prevent the militiamen from boarding the train.

“The militias then searched the train for 11 hours, despite the intervention of security forces,” the source told Radio Dabanga. He reported that they did not find any weapons. “The train was filled with soya beans for livestock owners in Adila locality.” The militias allowed the train to continue its way at 5 pm.

Tribal tensions

Musa Mohamed Ali Madibo, Member of Parliament (MP) in Ed Daein, confirmed that the train was searched “by thieves”. He also confirmed that a commander and his bodyguards were beaten.

Madibo did not want to elaborate on the rumours that the train carried weapons for the Ma'aliya tribe, which has been fighting with the Rizeigat in East Darfur. He did appeal to both parties to stop the clashes and resort to the voice of reason.

A commissioner of Yassin locality said that large numbers of armed fighters from both tribes had gathered in the area of Labado camp, and that the situation became very tense, after a clash between Rizeigat and a livestock rescue team consisting of Ma’aliya on Tuesday.

The eyewitness added that in the night, the militiamen carried out robberies in 20 shops in Ed Daein. “The police stood idle and did not intervene to protect the shops. This led to panic amongst the city residents.”

Photo: Militiamen surround the train in Ed Daein with their vehicles, mounted with Dushka machine guns, on Thursday (Radio Dabanga)