HUDO Centre
PRESS RELEASE
(For immediate release)
18th October 2016
ASSAULT OF AN ELDERLY MAN UNDER POLICE WATCH AT ELFAID/ SUDAN
On 13thOctober 2016, Haj, Aboud Mohamed, the crier (Muezzin) of Elfaid mosque
was beaten and insulted by Omda, Almanzoul of Dar-Faied/ Hawazma in front of
Alfaid police post. Haj/ Aboud Mohamed, 60 years old, is the muezzin of Elfaid
mosque and a farmer/cultivator from Tagali tribe of Nuba ethnics. Ommda
Almanzoul Kuku Almanzoul, 52 years old, is the community leader (Ommda) of
Dar-Faied/ Hawazma tribe one of the Arab tribes in South Kordufan who are
mainly cattle keepers. On 13th October 2016, Haj/ Aboud went to his garden
which is half kilometer from town. When he arrived, he found cattle (about 19
cows) grazing on his farm/garden. Then he gathered and took them towards the
police post where there is a prepared fence (locally called ZARIBA) for such
animal to be kept till the owner appears. Before entering the cattle to the
fence, the owner Ommda, Manzoul came with a stick and instantly started beating
Aboud while insulting him by calling him a slave, associating him/his Tagali
tribe with rebels and swearing that he will drive him out of Elfaid town. As a
result, the Ommda was managed to take his cattle and went away. All this
happened as the police officers watched. In a short while, Aboud decided to
report the matter to police officers in order to get justice but, the police
did not record his case. Instead they referred him (informed him to go) to the
prince (higher than Ommda in community leaders’ hierarchy). One of the
eyewitnesses informed HUDO that “the police didn’t intervene; they watched and
laughed at Ommda assaulted Haj Aboud”.
HUDO is much concerned and calls upon Sudan government and authorities in South
Kordufan state o To uphold and respect the law and customary regulations that
are used in South Kordufan in conflict resolution between farmers and cattle
keepers. To shun empowering one ethnicity against the other and protect rights
of people to live with dignity.
END For more information please contact Hudo2009@gmail.com or +256755681320