Looting Theft and Murder… Sudanese in Army-Held Areas Crushed by Hardship

Incidents of looting, theft, and murder are widespread in the cities of Kassala and Atbara, which are under the control of the armed forces—even in Port Sudan, the temporary capital of the military-formed government during the ongoing war in the country.

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According to the Ayin network, residents of Kassala—located 700 kilometers east of the Sudanese capital—avoid moving around at night in neighborhoods or markets, as crime rates have surged in recent months and fears have grown following the killing of several young men.

These incidents have sparked anger among the residents of Kassala, a city of about two million people, including tens of thousands of displaced persons, most of whom fled from the capital.

Various armed groups, including those affiliated with the Islamic Movement (the Muslim Brotherhood), operate freely in Kassala without any regulation. They maintain dozens of military offices throughout the city, openly operating under the watch of the army, police, and intelligence services.

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In the city of Atbara, in the Nile River State in northern Sudan, looting and murder have repeatedly occurred near the airport neighborhoods and the main market. Locals blame the police for failing to act and curb the rising crime.

In this regard, Ayin contacted the spokesperson for the Sudanese police for a comment on the looting incidents spreading in Kassala, Atbara, and even in Port Sudan, the temporary capital of the military-led government. However, he did not respond to the inquiries.

This leaves the pressing question: Why are the armed forces and police not intervening to pursue criminals and prevent looting and abduction in these states under their control? Why are they not taking the necessary measures to halt the spread of these crimes?

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