Chadian diplomat injured in attack in Darfur
KHARTOUM, April 15 (Reuters) – A Chadian diplomat was injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in the troubled western Sudanese Darfur region, Sudan’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
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Sudanese army soldiers patrol on camels outside the Mornay camp in western Darfur, Sudan.(AFP). |
“The consul-general of Chad was on his way back to El-Geneina in West Darfur state from the Chadian border town of Adre on Thursday evening when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle within Sudanese territory,” a statement from the ministry said.
A Chadian government official who declined to be named said the diplomat was seriously hurt. He is based in El-Geneina which is very close to the Chadian border.
Relations between the neighbours have been tense as hundreds of thousands of Darfuri refugees fleeing more than two years of open revolt have poured into poor eastern Chad. Chad last week accused Sudan of arming 3,000 rebels along the border to destabilise the country.
The statement said the local authorities rushed the diplomat to hospital in El-Geneina and then moved him to Adre.
“The Sudanese government expresses its deepest regret at this incident,” the statement said. “The government emphasises its desire for distinguished relations with our brotherly nation of Chad and announces its serious intention to investigate this incident and bring those responsible to justice.”
Tens of thousands have been killed in the fighting in Darfur, and more than 2 million have fled their homes to makeshift camps in the region the size of France.
West Darfur has seen clashes in the past two months between rebels and government forces. Last month U.N. and aid agency staff relocated to the capital after Arab militias issued threats to attack foreigners.
Some of Darfur’s tribes traverse the Chadian-Sudanese border and a number of Darfur rebel commanders served in the uprising which brought Chadian President Idriss Deby to power.
(Additional reporting by Betel Miarom in N’Djamena)