Gunmen kill local leader of North Darfur camp

August 3, 2009 (EL-FASHER) — Unknown gunmen killed on Sunday killed the traditional chief of Abu Shouk camp for internally Displaced Persons near the capital of North Darfur state, El Fasher.

Abu Shouk camp is the home of some 90,000 residents forced from their homes by more than five years of violence.

The Umda, Omer Adam Isaac was killed in his house inside the camp with his wife in the evening.

The IDPs complain from nights attacks inside the camps by unidentified assailants. Generally, they accuse the government backed militias. But in this case there are no details about who killed him.

The head of Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission, Mr. Rodolphe Adada, called today on the state authorities to probe the incident.

In a meeting held with the Governor of North Darfur, Mr. Othman Kibir, Adada called on the Sudanese Government to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

He also paid a visit to families of the deceased at Abu Shouk camp where he expressed condolences on behalf of UNAMID.

UNAMID has been working with all Darfuris and that “today, this death is like losing a member of our own family,” he said.

Since the incident, military and police peacekeepers are monitoring the situation in the camp.

(ST)