‘Prominent Central Darfur businessman’ abducted in Zalingei

One of the most prominent businessmen of Central Darfur was reportedly abducted on Monday evening while he was on his way home in the state capital Zalingei. He was taken to an unknown location. Armed men driving a Land Cruiser abducted Mohamed Ahmed Abdallah, also known as Wad Rajab, as he was moving from his shop to his home, west of Zalingei hospital, a source told Radio Dabanga. The Spokesman for the National Congress Party of Central Darfur state condemned Abdallah’s abduction and described what occured as “outrageous”. He affirmed that all the security forces of the state have been mobilised to search for the businessman. Displaced persons living in Zalingei camps strongly denounced the abduction and accused “pro-government militiamen living in Zalingei” of being behind it. A camp resident said that eight masked militiamen in a Land Cruiser mounted with a machine-gun intercepted the merchant on the street. They took him by force and fled to the area north-east of Zalingei. The coordinator of the Zalingei camps for the displaced appealed via Radio Dabanga to the kidnappers to release Abdallah as soon as possible. File photo Related:Market trader abducted in Nyala, South Darfur (5 September 2013) South Darfur man abducted from Nyala home (5 August 2013) Gunmen abduct ‘town’s greatest merchant’ in Central Darfur (6 April 2013)