8 killed, 4 injured by unknown gunmen in West Darfur
May 23, 2016 (EL-GENEINA) – Eight people were killed and four others injured Sunday in a retaliatory attack by unidentified gunmen on a mosque in a village located 10 km. east of West Darfur state capital, El-Geneina.
Following the incident, the government of West Darfur deployed large military reinforcements on the streets of El-Geneina to prevent further protests that could lead to the spread of chaos.
On Monday, thousands of people gathered in front of El-Geneina Teaching Hospital after the dead bodies were transferred to the morgue to identify the causes of death.
Also, traders at El-Geneina commercial market shut down their shop in protest against what they described as “barbaric” killing of the worshippers.
One of the victim’s relatives by the name of Omer Idris told Sudan Tribune that two gunmen on a motorcycle engaged in an altercation with a local man, saying the latter stabbed the two men killing one of them immediately and injuring the other.
He added that angry gunmen subsequently attacked the mosque during the sunset prayers to avenge the killing of their fellow tribesman, saying they killed 6 worshippers and injured 4 others before fleeing.
UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION
The local government, tribal leaders and rebel groups in Darfur condemned the attack on civilians by the gunmen. Several statements described it as a “clear violation of human rights” and called to implement international measures to protect Darfurians.
The governor of West Darfur Khalil Abdalla Mohamed has condemned the incident saying his government has put in place strict security arrangements to prevent further spread of violence.
He praised the role played by the Native Administration to control the situation, revealing that a committee headed by a minister has been formed to follow-up on the developments.
Also, the paramount chief of Masalit tribe and head of the local administration in the state Saad Abdel-Rahman Bahr al-Din said the incident is more dangerous than the armed rebellion.
Bahr al-Din called on the federal government to support West Darfur state to tackle the root causes of the violence.
The New Justice and Equality Movement (NJEM) said that the continued attacks against the residence are considered “systematic and deliberate genocide” by the government’s militias and paramilitary forces that work to protect the regime.
The rebel group which is led by Mansour Arbab, a Massalit from West Darfur, vowed to respond strongly to the attack and called upon its supporters to join the struggle in defence of the land, honour and people’s lives.
Meanwhile, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) Abdel-Wahid al-Nur has condemned the attack and held the government fully responsible for the “heinous crime”.
In a statement issued Monday, al-Nur denounced the silence of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and saying its inaction could be described as “collusion”.
The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune condemned the attack and called on the international community implement the decisions previously endorsed to “stop the crimes against humanity in Darfur”.
“We will not let these crimes go without accountability and will revenge from these criminals tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and we will not put the weapon until justice prevails throughout the country,” said Minnawi.
(ST)