Gunmen kill three guards, burn East Darfur governor house

April 18, 2016 (ED DAEIN/EL FASHER) – Suspected tribal gunmen killed three guards and burned down the house of East Darfur governor in Ed Daein to protest against the death of a leading member of a Rezeigat militia.

The attack of the governor house by the Rezeigat Savanna Militia members intervenes 24 hours after clashes between them and gunmen belonging to their arch-rival Maalia tribe where 12 people were killed over stolen camels in Yassin county in East Darfur on Sunday.

The attackers killed three policemen who exchanged fire with the militiamen before to burn the governor house and three vehicles to protest the killing of the militia deputy commander in Tour Doan area on Sunday.

They gunmen also seized three other vehicles and forces the other guards to hand over their arms.

The militiamen burned the vehicle of Ed Daein County executive director before to flee.

Officials members of East Darfur state government had been evacuated to Adila County on Sunday evening before the attack.

Commenting on the attack from El-Fasher where he was to participate in a workshop on Darfur disarmament, East Darfur Governor Anas Omer said the security forces are in control of the situation.

He denied that Sunday’s clashes were between the two tribes adding the fighting was limited to a Maalia branch called “Al-Aggariah” and a group of Rezeigat that led to the death of 15 people.

From their part, the “Rezeigat Youth” group on Monday evening issued a statement accusing the East Darfur government of siding with the Maalia tribe.

The statement further called to relieve the state governor immediately, and to bring the perpetrators from Maalia tribe to justice. Also, it condemned the “escalation process” initiated by Adila and Abu Karnaka Youth body, stressing their adherence to the tribal reconciliation accord they signed.

(ST)