Sudan News Update: Darfur Rebel Leader Was Killed in Aerial Bombing

Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir in south Darfur on March 18, 2009. The president called for the Darfur rebels to lay down their arms and talk peace with the government., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Sudan: Jem Leader Was 'Sleeping' When Killed

By Staff
Radio Dabanga (Hilversum)
26 December 2011

Khartoum — Suleiman Sandal Haggar, a leader of the Justice and Equality Movement has revealed more details about the assassination of Khalil Ibrahim.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Haggar said that Khalil Ibrahim was killed on Friday morning at 3am by aerial bombardment whilst sleeping in his vehicle.

He was not killed by clashes between the government forces and JEM.

Haggar was 20 meters away when the incident happened.

He stated that the government forces reportedly released flares to locate Khalil Ibrahim, and then dropped three shells on the vehicle he was sleeping in, immediately killing him and one of his bodyguards, named Abdullah. A second vehicle was also destroyed.

Haggar didn't mention the location where the JEM leader was killed for security reasons.

He accused regional and international actors for colluding and conspiring with the Sudanese government to provide advanced technological support and the intelligence means to carry out such an attack.

Reactions

Ahmed Atem, mayor and coordinator of internally displaced camps in North Darfur, said that the camps residents were in deep sorrow for the assassination of Khalil Ibrahim. He said this was a blow for the nation and those marginalized and oppressed.

Head of the Sudanese Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi called for an international investigation of the killing, adding that this will not help the peace process in Darfur, but deepen the crisis.

Minnawi said that all armed groups aimed to achieve peace and stability, but the National Congress Party only wanted war.

The Sudan Liberation Army faction led by Abdul Wahid said they were mourning his death as Khalil Ibrahim was a truthful partner and loyal to finding a solution for the problems in Darfur and Sudan.

A spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement called the late JEM leader 'a hero' and said his death will 'increase the resolve of the revolutionaries to continue to fight and work together to topple the regime of the National Congress Party in Khartoum.'

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