{"id":20054658,"date":"2023-10-02T16:47:56","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T14:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20054658"},"modified":"2023-10-12T17:37:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T15:37:33","slug":"three-killed-in-attack-on-lifeline-convoy-en-route-to-north-darfur-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/three-killed-in-attack-on-lifeline-convoy-en-route-to-north-darfur-capital","title":{"rendered":"Three killed in attack on \u2018lifeline convoy\u2019 en route to North Darfur capital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Saturday, a large convoy from Port Sudan arrived in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur. The convoy, protected by the Darfur Joint Force, was attacked on the way by gunmen blocking the road in El Kuma, North Darfur, killing three people and injuring five others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The convoy, which included 25 lorries for humanitarian aid, medicines and items for agricultural improvement programme<\/a>, in addition to 100 fuel tankers, about 1,290 lorries loaded with commercial merchandise, 170 private vehicles carrying civil registry<\/a> tools and devices, and several travel buses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vehicles were protected by troops of the Darfur Joint Force<\/a>, formed of former combatants of the rebel movements that signed the Juba Peace Agreement<\/a> in October 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe convoy moved from Kosti in White Nile state via North and West Kordofan to North Darfur,\u201d Maj Ahmed Hussein, official spokesperson for the Darfur Joint Force, told Radio Dabanga. \u201cMembers of the joint force also accompanied the lorries that went to North and West Kordofan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roadblock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, the convoy was intercepted by gunmen blocking the road near El Kuma town in North Darfur. \u201cThe joint force confronted the aggressors and were able to reopen the road, enabling the convoy to make its way to El Fasher,\u201d the major reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint press statement, the security committee and native administration* leaders in El Kuma reported that \u201cZiyadiya bandits who had blocked the road, fired at the joint force at the entrance of the town on Friday\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three people were killed and five others injured during the ensuing gunfight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo facilitate and secure the flow of commercial convoys\u201d, the security committee and the community leaders said they \u201cwill continue to coordinate their work on all levels\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor of the Darfur region Minni Minawi announced in a statement yesterday that a committee was formed by the joint force and the Ziyadia tribe to investigate the attack on the \u201clifeline convoy\u201d on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minawi described the incident as \u201cunfortunate\u201d, and called on \u201call parties to exercise restraint, calm and rationality\u201d. He declared that the Darfur Regional Government bears responsibility for the victims on both sides, promising to resolve the matter \u201cas soon as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumours circulated<\/a> in El Fasher last week regarding \u201can imminent RSF attack on a convoy of lorries carrying humanitarian aid and weapons to the city\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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*\u00a0The\u00a0<\/em>Native Administration was instituted<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by British colonial authorities seeking a pragmatic system of governance that allowed for effective control with limited investment and oversight by the state. The state-appointed tribal leaders were also responsible for executing policies, collecting taxes, and mobilising labour on behalf of the central government. According to the Darfur Bar Association (DBA), the Native Administration during the 30-year rule of dictator Omar Al Bashir\u00a0<\/em>did not represent<\/em><\/a>\u00a0the real community leaders.<\/em><\/p>\n