North Darfur Governor survives assassination attempt

The Governor of North Darfur escaped an assassination attempt in Kuma on Saturday, when unknown gunmen opened fire at him and other members of a delegation. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, multiple sources said that Governor Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, accompanied by the Head of the North Darfur police, and the Head of the security forces, was attacked by an “armed group” on Saturday. The armed men began firing at the delegation members, after they had had a meeting with the authorities of El Kuma locality. Kibir’s driver was killed, as well as one of the police guards. Other guards were wounded. The Commissioner of El Kuma locality, Mohamed Suleiman Rabih, told the press that an “unidentified armed group started firing at the Governor and his companions in Kuma when they were leaving the locality’s premises on Saturday. The Governor miraculously survived the assassination attempt.” The delegation had arrived in Kuma, 80km northeast of El Fasher, from Mellit locality, on a “semi-secret” visit, the sources explained. The governor had paid a visit to Mellit town, which was attacked by armed rebel movements last Thursday. He intended to continue to Um Keddada after his visit to Kuma. After the attack the high-level delegation returned directly to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. File photo: Osman Mohamed Yousif Kibir, Governor of North Darfur Related:Rebel forces claim control of Mellit, North Darfur (13 March 2014)Musa Hilal warns North Darfur citizens of ‘operations’ (2 March 2014)