Protestors target Darfur governor after market shooting

March 3, 2009 (EL FASHER) – Angry residents of El Fasher began to throw stones at the vehicle carrying the governor of North Darfur following a militia rampage in the market.

Yesterday a shooting incident occurred in Manawashi Market, El Fasher, in which one person was killed and six wounded, according to the United Nations-African Union hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

“UNAMID was advised that a group of militiamen were firing in the market and had attempted to loot shops, allegedly due to their discontent with not having received salaries,” said the peacekeepers.

Returning to El Fasher from Khartoum later in the day, the governor (Wali) of North Darfur visited the wounded in the local hospital.

However, an outraged crowd demonstrated against the looting done by the militia. The demonstrators reportedly began throwing stones at the governor’s vehicle, prompting his bodyguards to begin shooting in the air, according to UNAMID.

El Fasher is a government-held town and the capital of North Darfur. The town has never been taken by rebel forces but it is transited by a diverse array of security forces and militias. UNAMID did not state which militia were involved.

(ST)