The Governor of North Darfur State escaped an assassination attempt in Kuma on Saturday, when gunmen opened fire on his convoy as he left a local government building.  

Governor Osman Mohamed Yusif Kibir, accompanied by the heads of the state police and national security in the state, was attacked by an unidentified armed group, multiple sources told Radio Dabanga.

The governor and his entourage were leaving a meeting with authorities of El Kuma locality when they were attacked. Kibir’s driver was killed, as well as one of the police guards, while other bodyguards were injured.

The Commissioner of El Kuma locality, Mohamed Suleiman Rabih, explained that an “unidentified armed group started firing at the governor and his companions in Kuma when they were leaving the locality’s premises on Saturday. The governor miraculously survived the assassination attempt.”

The delegation had arrived in Kuma, 80 km northeast of El Fasher, from Mellit Locality, on a ‘semi-secret’ visit, the sources explained. The governor had paid a visit to Mellit town, which was attacked by armed rebel movements last Thursday. He intended to continue to Um Keddada after his visit to Kuma. After the attack the high-level delegation returned directly to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

File photo: Osman Mohamed Yusif Kibir, governor of North Darfur State

Related:

Rebel forces claim control of Mellit, North Darfur (13 March 2014)

Musa Hilal warns North Darfur citizens of 'operations' (2 March 2014)