The deadly violent looting has recently increased in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, which has posed a concern for the population and a security and political challenge to the transitional government.
Al-Jazeera Net obtained security reports containing statistics and analyzes of crime rates in the state of Khartoum, which includes the federal capital and is inhabited by about a quarter of the country’s population. Read also The political transition threatens to ignite tribal confrontations in the states and the increase in crimes in Sudanese cities Sudan.. Successive developments after the death of a young man in one of the Rapid Support Forces detention facilities The armed movements forces in Khartoum are restless.. Why was the implementation of security arrangements delayed?It included the legalization of alcohol for non-Muslims and the abolition of apostasy.. Amendments to the laws raise controversy in Sudan
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However, the report complained about the police’s lack of means of movement, and the police departments’ failure to cover all parts of Khartoum State. For example, the number of insurance sites in the state is 509, including 363 sites that are not working.
However, what is remarkable about the reports of the General Intelligence Service is that, in addition to the statistics, they contained bold analyzes and recommendations for decision-makers in the transitional government in Khartoum.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, the governor of Khartoum state, Ayman Khaled Nimr, believes that there is an exaggeration of crimes to exploit the security clause politically and to stir panic.
The violent and lethal robbery crimes stir public opinion on social media, and are considered a security and political challenge that is taken as an indicator of the weakness or cohesion of the transitional government.
Women’s gangs
According to the secret reports of the agency, in the analysis that it submitted to the state government, gangs have increased in Khartoum state, as they have closed areas, and it was expected that there will be coordination between them to work as major groups in criminal activity and exchange information.
The security analysis confirmed the presence of large numbers of regular forces and armed movement forces – signatories to the peace agreement with the government – which makes it difficult for the police to tackle crime, as well as the emergence of women’s formations within gangs, which may lead to a major social change in society.
The analysis showed that the deterioration of the economy and the high prices exacerbated the emergence of criminal groups, and warned of the chaos that the states witnessed to the capital, and the spread of random housing in the outskirts of Khartoum as an incubator of insecurity.
The agency’s reports recommended limiting the armed movements’ forces inside Khartoum, setting a clear timetable for the merger and demobilization operations, removing these forces from residential areas, and preventing the regular forces from driving cars without plates and confiscating them.
It also recommended dealing firmly with the insurrections, intensifying patrols within neighborhoods that contain large numbers of “niggers” gangs, criminalizing the carrying of bladed weapons, and limiting the carrying of firearms to regular forces.
Motorcycle looting
According to the Khartoum police report, during the first third of this year, the state witnessed 175 murders, 22,381 thefts, 823 cases of looting, 147 cases of child rape, 58 cases of counterfeiting currency, and 1883 drug crimes.
The report gave a comparison between the reporting period for this year and the same period of the previous year in the crimes of robbery and kidnapping, which have become known locally as “long 9” after the increase in the number of motorbike looting.
He explained that the first third of this year recorded 823 cases of looting, compared to 1,570 cases in the first third of 2020, a decrease of 46.9%.
According to the report, there were 196 car thefts this year, of which 116 were recovered, 59%. Compared to the months of this year, there were 106 car thefts in January and February, compared to 90 car thefts in the previous March and April.
Intelligence analysis indicates that most car thefts are criminally motivated to use the stolen car to carry out other crimes.
Political exploitation
The governor of Khartoum, Ayman Nimer, confirms that the police statistics clearly indicate a decrease in crime compared to the same period last year, but there are attempts to exaggerate the crimes and spread rumors to exploit the matter politically and spread reassurance among the citizens.
The governor acknowledges that the Khartoum police suffer from a severe shortage of manpower, as every 700 citizens are met by one policeman, in addition to the significant shortage of vehicles and the number of departments compared to the area of the state and its population.
He asserts that his government is working with the police leadership to fill the shortage in logistical requirements such as vehicles (cars, bicycles…) and rehabilitate departments, police stations, and neighborhood insurance points, because the citizen’s security is based on all other plans.
He points to the importance of restructuring the police forces after the regime of Omar al-Bashir presented them to displacement, sabotage and politicization, by consolidating a new doctrine that contributes to building a civil state of law and the police’s role in maintaining the security and safety of citizens.
“security joke”
General Intelligence reports counted about 70 “security hazard” areas in the three regions of the state – Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum North – 24 areas in Khartoum, 24 in Omdurman, and 21 in Khartoum North.
And the “security shambles” are areas prone to crime by virtue of their location and receiving crimes from nearby crime sources.
According to the Khartoum police report, it was possible to control the crime-exporting sites in the peripheral neighborhoods, and to intensify the prevention measures in the receiving areas by means of separating security belts.
The report identified the causes of looting on unregulated motorbikes and the spread of knives, which prompted the police to organize confiscation campaigns, taking into account the increased police presence at times of return of employees and university students.
And the intelligence report proved that white weapons are dominant in committing murder crimes. For example, premeditated murders recorded 38 cases during last March, including 30 cases of sharp object killing.
Logistical problems
The police report reflected logistical difficulties facing its members in the state of Khartoum, which is home to between 8 and 10 million people.
He recommended increasing and modernizing the police fleet of “patrol and rescue” vehicles, providing new motorcycles to work on the streets and preventing crimes of looting and kidnapping.
He mentioned that the number of criminal departments is 101 in the localities of Khartoum state, but the need requires more to cover the department of jurisdiction, and requested the establishment of 7 departments as a first stage in the peripheral locations, the rehabilitation of 19 police stations, and the construction of 4 departments for family and child protection.
The report also recommended providing 101 new accident cars in police stations, and stated that work is underway with the state government, the police headquarters and neighborhood services committees to maintain 363 insurance sites out of 509 sites, of which only 140 are working.
He points out that the emergency sector operates at less than half its capacity, with 64 cars out of 148, with an operating rate of only 43%, and therefore it needs 100 new cars to achieve effective police deployment.
He adds that the “mast sector” (the guards who ride on horses) needs to provide it with good horses, prepare the stables and provide veterinary care.
Regarding communications, it is recommended to provide 150 fixed short-range devices, 300 short-range devices that are mobile, as well as hand-held devices, 32 long-range fixed devices and 30 similar ones.
With regard to the geographical expansion of the mandate, the police requested the addition of 817 surveillance cameras and the necessary solar energy devices, and to provide the costs of living for those waiting in police stations.