Nyala, May 23 (Darfur24)
A tribal leader identified as Al-Dum Dawai Yahya was shot dead on Thursday evening by unidentified gunmen in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
A family source told Darfur24 that armed men traveling in a saloon car intercepted the mayor while he was returning from Al-Jaz market, accompanied by his nephew, who was driving a pickup vehicle.
The source said the attackers opened fire on them in the Al-Wahda neighborhood west of the city while they were carrying money, seriously injuring both men.
He was then transferred to the Turkish Hospital in Nyala, where he later died from his injuries, while the driver, identified as Muhammad, was taken to Nyala Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that a force affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces’ Civil Protection Unit later arrested suspects linked to the attack.
Eyewitnesses told Darfur24 that members of the victim’s family blocked major roads linking Nyala to the northern and southern parts of the state following the killing, while the city’s popular market was also shut down.
Nyala has witnessed increasing insecurity and armed violence in recent months despite an ongoing security campaign conducted by the Rapid Support Forces.