A Highly Esteemed Young Electrical Engineer Shot Dead by RSF-Janjaweed in al-Fashir on his Way to W

07:46 PM September, 19 2023

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Mohammed Adam Ibra is a devoted electrical engineer; the word devoted was employed in this context due to the appalling security and working conditions the nation is experiencing. It is a conflict zone, especially in Darfur following the clash between the Sudanese Arm Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15 in Khartoum. Darfur has experienced the worst effects of this war.

In addition to torture, desecration and mutilation of bodies (ref. 1), rape (ref. 2), looting of markets and the possessions of civilians, the RSF committed war crimes in West Darfur, including mass killings based on ethnicity (ref. 3) and the discovery of 13 mass graves, which the UN (ref. 4) and US have acknowledged. Moving from Central Darfur, the city of Zallengei (ref. 5), and the atrocities committed by the exact same group, to a scenario that is eerily similar in South Darfur Nyala, where intense shelling between the warring parties within the residential areas has resulted in hundreds of deaths and more than 120,000 people fleeing the city (ref. 6). Moreover, RSF and the affiliated Janjaweed militias have carried out assassinations on the basis of ethnicity and have also targeted lawyers, activists, teachers, and people who are the cornerstones of their communities and families. Here are a few very restricted examples:-

Alhaj Ahmed Abaker Bargo, a community leader, was shot dead by the RSF in his home in Nyala while trying to defend his family from an attack (ref. 7).
Prince Tarig Abdelrahman Bahar Eldin, brother of the Sultan of Dar Masalit, was killed in Elgeneina whilst defending himself and others from RSF attack (ref. 8).
Lawyer Ahmed Abdalla Allord, a human rights defender, was kidnapped and assassinated on the way between Nyala and al-Fashir (ref. 6).
Khamis Abdellah Abaker, Governor of West Darfur, was kidnapped, brutally killed, and his body was mutilated by the RSF in Elgeneina (ref. 9).

The security situation in North Darfur is dire, with a tense standoff between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This standoff has been breached a few times, resulting in heavy shelling and the deaths and injuries of tens of people (ref. 10).
Similar to other cities and towns in Darfur, the RSF and their allied Janjaweed militia have attempted to loot markets in al-Fashir, but have been prevented by the Joint Forces, which are made up of signatories to the Sudanese Peace Agreement. The Joint Forces are acting as a buffer between the two fighting groups, but the security situation is still critical.
RSF and Janjaweed personnel are roaming around parts of the city, mugging civilians.
In other words, the RSF and Janjaweed are trying to take over al-Fashir, but the Joint Forces are stopping them. However, the city is still very dangerous, with RSF and Janjaweed personnel robbing people in the streets.

The City’s Frontliners

During wars, certain essential workers are often spared from the violence. These people keep cities and towns functioning, even in the midst of conflict. Examples of such professions include doctors, ambulance workers, electrical engineers, and journalists. These front-line workers often wear uniforms to make them identifiable in war zones.
In the great city of al-Fashir, many residents fled their homes due to the dire security conditions. However, a group of dedicated electrical engineers decided to stay in the city to keep the power station running, even under impossible working conditions. They worked in shifts around the clock to keep the lights on.
In other words, a group of brave electrical engineers in al-Fashir risked their lives to keep the city's power grid running during a war. They are an example of the essential workers who keep our communities functioning, even in the midst of conflict.

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, electrical engineer Mohammed Adam Ibra was driving to work to the city power station when he was stopped by RSF and Janjaweed personnel. They tried to rob him, and when he defended himself, an RSF soldier shot and killed him.
This is not the first time that front-line workers have been killed in this way. It is part of a systematic campaign to target people from certain backgrounds. Similar killings have happened in Elgeneina and Nyala.
This violence is unacceptable and must be stopped. The RSF and Janjaweed must be held accountable for their actions.

Everyone describes Eng. Mohammed Adam Ibra as a well-mannered young guy who is loving to his family, close to his friends, and friendly to the neighbours and to everyone he meets. His coworkers regard him as a devoted front-line worker who gives his all to the residents of al-Fashir. His death was horrifying, a full crime intended to terrorise city residents and normalise and justify the RSF and Janjaweed's arm robbery and degrading treatment of civilians in the lack of a deterrent. The RSF and Janjaweed, a terrorist organization, have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity throughout Darfur. It is essential to continue seeking justice and documenting these heinous crimes. The victims are not just statistics; they are human beings with unique stories and contributions to their communities. Their deaths should not be normalized, as the perpetrators desire. Therefore, it is crucial to document the crimes, as has been done in several Darfur Union reports (ref. 11).

*The International Community has a Responsibility to Act*

The international community has a responsibility to act to protect civilians in Darfur. Here are some specific actions that can be taken:
Provide a mandate and the support needed to the Joint Forces, which are made up of signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, to expand their areas of operation and protect civilians.
Put pressure on the fighting groups in Darfur to stop shelling civilian areas and for the RSF to withdraw from occupied neighborhoods.
Empower the Joint Forces to protect civilians from the Janjaweed militias by giving them a clear mandate and the resources they need.
Increase humanitarian assistance to Darfur and East Chad through the Port Sudan and Douala port, Cameroon.
Hold the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accountable for the crimes against humanity and war crimes they have committed against the people of Darfur, including Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo (recently sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury (ref. 12)), Algony Hamdan Dagalo, and Abdelrahman Juma Barak Allah (also recently sanctioned by the US Treasury (ref. 12)). It is also important to support the ICC on the ongoing cases (Abdelrahman Kushayb, ref. 13) and also to bring to Justice those ICC indictees who are still at large (Omar al-Bashir (ref. 14), Abdelrahim Mohammed Hussein (ref. 15) and Ahmed Haroun (ref. 16)).
Give more support to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to continue its investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Reactivate Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to allow the Security Council to take more robust measures to stop the violence in Darfur and send a clear message that the international community will not tolerate the continued impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The Darfur Union believes that these actions are necessary to end the war crimes in Darfur and protect the civilian population.

Darfur Union in the UK

Arabic Forum