Sudanese Army: Rapid Support Forces Assassinate the Governor of West Darfur after his Kidnapping
Moatinoon
The General Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces announced the killing of the Governor of West Darfur State, Kamis Abdullah Ekar, after he was kidnapped by a force affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces in the capital city of the state, Geneina.
Reports indicated that the Rapid Support Forces captured Kamis Abkar yesterday, Wednesday, who remained present in the city throughout the recent events.
The Darfur Lawyers Association and its partners condemned the assassination of the Governor of West Darfur, describing it as heinous, barbaric, and brutal. The association called for the urgent intervention of the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council to stop the human massacres and genocide committed by what the association referred to as the roaming militias backed by the Rapid Support Forces against innocent civilians in the state and the city of Geneina.
The European Union ambassador, Aidan OHara, condemned the murder crime, affirming that protecting civilians and delivering humanitarian aid are obligations under international law, and those responsible for the violations will be held accountable, according to the French news agency.
Governor Kamis Abdullah Abkar had given an interview to Al Hadath TV channel hours before a video was circulated showing his capture by an armed force and his subsequent assassination. In his interview with the channel, he stated that the situation in Geneina is indescribable, as there are no hospitals or means to bury the dead, and that the number of injured people exceeds 3,000. He added that doctors are being targeted, the situation is out of control, and it is unprecedented.
He stated that the conflict in the state is caused by a dispute between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in the joint area between them, and it subsequently spread to the rest of the state.
He denied the validity of reports suggesting that the conflict in West Darfur began between the Masalit and Arab tribes of Darfur.
He mentioned that he informed the regional governor, Meni Arko Menawi, about what was happening more than a month ago, but nothing was done. Additionally, the 15th Infantry Division did not leave its barracks to defend the citizens.
Governor Kamis Abdullah Abkar was the leader of one of the rebel movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement with the government in 2020 to end the conflict in Darfur. The movement he led is a coalition of several factions formed in Juba during the negotiations that led to the agreement, and he was subsequently appointed as the governor of West Darfur State.
The city of Geneina has witnessed bloody events resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 civilians and thousands of injuries. It has also experienced large waves of displacement due to the siege, lack of healthcare services, and scarcity of food supplies.
