The Resistance Committees in the Abu Rof neighbourhood in Omdurman City accused the Sudanese army and police on Monday of carrying out looting operations targeting the homes of citizens in the Abu Rof area and several neighborhoods in Old Omdurman.
The Sudanese army had asserted control over the Old Omdurman area earlier this week after seizing the radio and television buildings from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
On Tuesday, social media witnessed a widespread campaign against the looting operations targeting the neighbourhoods of Old Omdurman.
In a press statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, Abu Rof Resistance Committees stated that the Old Omdurman area had remained under the control of the Rapid Support Forces militia for nearly a year, during which all kinds of violations and war crimes were committed, including killings, plundering, looting, forced disappearances, displacement, and occupation of citizens’ homes.
The statement noted that after the advancement of the Sudanese armed forces and the liberation of the area, local residents sadly witnessed several cases of theft and looting of what remained of the furniture and belongings of citizens by soldiers from the Sudanese army and the police, in the presence of senior officers, making them complicit in the crime, even if through silence and neglect.
The statement warned that the continuation of such crimes could lead to a loss of trust in the agencies entrusted with the protection of citizens, calling for the perpetrators of these crimes to be held accountable.
Hamid Ismail, a resident of Omdurman, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that he had personally witnessed soldiers stealing gas cylinders using motorcycles. He stated, “I have seen that with my own eyes. A motorcycle was carrying four gas cylinders, stolen by armed soldiers.”
He added, “Nowadays, only soldiers are stealing. They have transferred all the belongings of citizens via cars and left no bed or chair.”
Ismail further explained that soldiers are deployed throughout Old Omdurman, and the extraction of citizens’ belongings requires permission from military intelligence through lengthy procedures. He urged all citizens in Omdurman to expedite the extraction of their belongings to avoid theft.
Nabil Abdallah, the army spokesperson, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The war between army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and his former deputy and RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has since April last year killed tens of thousands, destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy.
Several ceasefire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators have failed to end violence in the country.