South Darfur education official and two sons slain

A group of armed men have reportedly gunned-down and killed the head of the education office and two of his sons in Bielel town, just south of Nyala, capital of South Darfur. According to eyewitnesses, three gunmen stormed the farm of Mohamed Ahmed Saleh, director of elementary education in Bielel town and asked him to give them his mobile phone. The members of the gang shot him dead when he refused and then killed two of his sons who tried to avenge the murder of their father. Bielel commissioner told reporters that a local security committee held an emergency meeting following the incident and dispatched a joint force from the army and police to pursue the culprits. He added that the alleged assailants were arrested in Baba area north of the town and will be referred to justice soon. The police said two of the assailants were wounded, and will be treated at Nyala hospital before going to trial. Armed gangs, mainly formed by pro-government militias, regularly carry out attacks on businessmen, commercial convoys, and harass, beat, rob and kill displaced persons throughout Darfur. The UN recently issues a warning to all NGOs to restrict their movements in and around Nyala, due to the risk of abduction. File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid