Sudan accuses rebels of hijacking Darfur relief convoy, killing sultan

KHARTOUM, April 30 (AFP) — The Sudanese government accused Darfur rebels of hijacking a relief convoy and kidnapping and assassinating a local official who was leading it, a local official.

Reporting from Al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur State, the Sudanese Media Centre said Friday that the sultan, or native administrator, of the Ambro district, Abdel Rahman Ali Mohamadain, was abducted by rebels of the Sudan Liberation Movement last Saturday when he was leading a relief convoy to the district.

The SMC quoted North Darfur Governor Osman Yusuf Kibir as saying the rebels assassinated Mohamadain on Thursday after torturing him and charging that this was a violation of the ceasefire.

He said his government would continue to respect the ceasefire.

The SMC said the rebels seized the convoy and its contents and headed to an unspecified locality under their control.

Since February of last year, Darfur has been ravaged by fighting between government-backed militias and two rebel movements, the Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equity Movement. About 10,000 people have died and up to a million others been displaced.