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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Sudan
Index
The widespread instability and clashes between ethnic groups
arising from the civil war were accompanied by breakdowns of law
and order in many parts of the country. Killings, rapes, and
thefts of personal possessions, food, and livestock were
committed by various militia groups and frequently by the SPLA
and the government armed forces as well. Large areas of Sudan
became depopulated as a result of the fighting and migrations in
search of safety. The availability of weapons contributed to the
prevalence of banditry, especially along the Chad, Zaire, and
Uganda borders. In the western province of Darfur, the police
wielded little authority, and lawlessness prevailed. Smuggling
was also common, particularly along the Ethiopian border.
The collapse of security in many areas was not fully
reflected in available statistics on crime, although some
indications of the pattern of criminality did emerge. According
to the most recent data reported by Sudan to Interpol covering
the year 1986, more than 135,000 criminal offenses were recorded,
reflecting a rate of 650 crimes per 100,000 of population. More
than 1,000 homicides occurred and 3,300 sex offenses were
registered, including 600 rapes. There were 7,300 serious
assaults. The more than 100,000 thefts of various kinds
constituted by far the most common category of crime. They
included armed robbery (33,000 cases), breaking and entering
(22,500), theft under aggravated circumstances (1,900), and
automobile theft (1,500). There were 15,000 cases of fraud and
3,600 drug infractions.
Sudan was not a major international narcotics marketplace.
Most narcotics consumed in Sudan consisted of marijuana grown in
the eastern part of the country. Penalties for narcotics use were
similar to those for alcohol and could include flogging. In
nearly all categories except narcotics violations, Sudan reported
more offenses than Egypt, a country with more than twice the
population. This discrepancy may be accounted for by more
accurate police records on the extent of criminal activity or by
different definitions of the offenses reported to Interpol.
Sudanese authorities claimed to have solved more than 70
percent of most forms of robbery and theft and 53 percent of all
crimes reported. Only 25 percent of homicides, 40 percent of
general sex offenses, and 32 percent of rape cases were recorded
as solved.
Data as of June 1991
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