Kreinik (), or Al Kuraynik or Kereneik, is a town in
West Darfur, Sudan, located east of
Geneina.
History
Kreinik has been the site of
inter-communal conflict, with clashes between
Arab nomads and the
Masalit tribe, and massacres committed against the Masalit people. The conflict has led to civilian casualties and displacement.
During the
War in Darfur, it served as a refugee camp for Masalit civilians who fled massacres by the Arab Janjaweed militias.
In 2012, armed militias seized farms in the town. Following the
2021 Darfur clashes
In January 2021, 130 people were killed in intercommunal clashes in Darfur, Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is ...
, many refugees from Kreinik fled and settled in
Foro Baranga
Foro Baranga or Forbrenga ( ar, فوربرنقا) is a town located in West Darfur, Sudan.
History
The villagers from 20 villages near Foro Baranga town held a demonstration in front of the city council on 14 August 2011 over the lack of availa ...
.
In December 2021, dozens were killed in tribal clashes. On 24 April 2022, a thousand militants murdered more than 200 people in the
Kreinik massacre, while the town was torched including the town's hospital. A
Médecins Sans Frontières team returned to Kreinik in December 2022 to rebuild the destroyed hospital.
During the
2023 War in Sudan
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many socie ...
between the
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the town has been under control of the RSF, as has most of
West Darfur. In November 2023, the RSF in Kereneik, imposed a ban on civilians crossing into
Chad
Chad (; ar, تشاد , ; french: Tchad, ), officially the Republic of Chad, '; ) is a landlocked country at the crossroads of North and Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic ...
, citing the restoration of regional security. Violators faced hefty fines. This followed widespread violence against civilians, with accusations against the RSF of fuelling violence and committing
war crimes in West Darfur. The RSF and allied Arab militias imposed exorbitant penalties on those transporting civilians to Chad. Since then, the area has been isolated since 2023, with the main supply route closed off by the
Sudanese Armed Forces. This has made it difficult for humanitarian aid to reach the area. Despite the challenges, aid agencies have been working to provide support, including food, shelter, and medical assistance.
Demographics
Kreinik is inhabited mostly by the
Masalit, the biggest ethnic group in
West Darfur. It became home to many displaced ethnic black Masalit communities in the 2000s and the 2010s.
References
{{Reflist
Populated places in West Darfur