March 30, 2020(Al-geneina) Gunmen have seized a WFP helicopter that landed in mysterious circumstances in an area experiencing inter-tribal fighting in West Darfur state.
The area of Jabel Al-Silk, located 110 kilometers south of Al-Geneina, witnessed bloody events on Saturday and Sunday ,between armed groups, belonging to Masalit and nomadic Arabs in which 8 people killed and 3 others wounded.
One of the leaders from the Al-silk area told of Darfur 24 on Monday morning ,that they were surprised that a helicopter with five Russian foreigners on board landed in the Arum area, which is adjacent to the Al-Silk area.
“We managed to control the plane at gunpoint, then we handed over its crew to local community leaders, where they were taken to Habila , West Darfur ,” the leader added.
A government official told Darfur 24 that the crew of the plane were at Habila locality.
The government official explained that the authorities learned from the crew that the plane had moved from El Fasher airport in North Darfur state on its way to Umm Dakhun locality in central Darfur, and that the landing was emergency.
However, Darfur 24 indicates that the government authorities in West Darfur state are keeping anonymity on the incident and did not release any details.