LJM kidnaps Minister of Youth and Sports in N Darfur

An armed group from Tijani Sese’s Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) kidnapped on Monday the Minister of Youth and Sports, from the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA). The armed group also attacked other DRA Ministries in El-Fasher, North Darfur. The armed group, driving several vehicles, seized Minister Hussein Abdulrahman Drjal along with other ministry’s employees. The hostages were not released until the Governor of North Darfur, Osman Kibir, intervened and negotiated their release. An eye witness informed Radio Dabanga that Minister Drjal was seized from inside the Ministry’s toilet facilities. Sources say that gunmen intensively fired in the air before raiding a DRA office, where they stole computers, mobile phones and cars and teared documents. Merchants from the El-Fasher market shut down their shops due to fear of violence or of being caught in the crossfire. One of the individuals who invaded the DRA Ministries told Radio Dabanga the reason for the attack is because Tijani Sese marginalized and neglected LJM’s army. He claims they submitted many memorandums to Sese asking for their salaries, food and medicine, which he ignored. The individual also says Sese did not include the army in decision-making processes. In a press conference in El-Fasher, Tijani Sese said this event was carried out by criminals. He added the criminals want to incite fear in DRA leaders and disturb the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).