‘Three dead, five injured’ in shooting at North Darfur market

09/09/2018 09:32 KUTUM

Reportedly three people were killed and five others were seriously wounded in a gunfight between an army officer and members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Kutum, North Darfur, on Friday.
In conflicting accounts of the incident, some people told Radio Dabanga that the shooting was triggered by an attempt of two RSF militiamen to forcibly remove a kadamol [a scarf covering the face] from the head of an army officer. Others reported that the two accused the officer of possessing drugs.
All agreed that a row erupted between an army officer and two RSF members at Kutum market. They said that the officer suddenly began shooting at them. Both militiamen and a passer-by died instantly. Five others, two children, two women and a man, sustained various bullet wounds.
The Commissioner of Kutum, Mohamed Ahmed El Haj, told the press later on Friday that 11 people were killed and wounded: three army soldiers, three militiamen, and five citizens.

Government forces pillage a village in Darfur (Brian SteidleUS Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Reportedly three people were killed and five others were seriously wounded in a gunfight between an army officer and members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Kutum, North Darfur, on Friday.

In conflicting accounts of the incident, some people told Radio Dabanga that the shooting was triggered by an attempt of two RSF militiamen to forcibly remove a kadamol [a scarf covering the face] from the head of an army officer. Others reported that the two accused the officer of possessing drugs.

All agreed that a row erupted between an army officer and two RSF members at Kutum market. They said that the officer suddenly began shooting at them. Both militiamen and a passer-by died instantly. Five others, two children, two women and a man, sustained various bullet wounds.

The Commissioner of Kutum, Mohamed Ahmed El Haj, told the press later on Friday that 11 people were killed and wounded: three army soldiers, three militiamen, and five citizens.