Prospector killed, commissioner’s bodyguard injured in Darfur robberies

A gold prospector was shot in Kutum locality, North Darfur, on Sunday. A bodyguard was seriously wounded in an attack on a locality commissioner in Central Darfur.

The displaced Ali Ahmed was searching for gold north of Kassab camp in Kutum on Friday, when a bandit shot him and stole the gold he had collected. He died from his injuries on Sunday.

In Bindisi, Central Darfur, bandits attacked Commissioner Hamoud Hamdan's vehicle on Monday in an attempt to hijack it. They opened fire, seriously injuring Hamdan's bodyguard.

Unable to steal the damaged vehicle, the attackers took a rifle, SDG500 ($81.60), and a mobile phone from the Commissioner, and fled.

Bindisi was the scene of clashes between police and militiamen from 7 to 9 April. Eight people were killed and military reinforcements were deployed to contain the conflict. The attackers, who are members of a militia, have reportedly not been caught.