Civilian Shot Dead at Roadblock Outside Al-Geneina

November 23, 2006

A vendor was killed last night while attempting to return home from Al-Genina. The man, whose name has not yet been confirmed, had come to the town to sell vegetables.

According to four witnesses, who asked that their names not be revealed, the victim was on his way home to Ardemi village, close to the Um-Kulol area, which is northeast of Al-Genina. At approximately 5:00 pm local time, he came to a roadblock five kilometers outside of Al-Genina, between the site of the destroyed Oshira village and Mashtel Alshaheed.

A man in government uniform, accompanied by two members of the local Janjaweed militia, detained and questioned him. According to the witnesses, who overhead the conversation, the Janjaweed members accused the man of being a rebel supporter and demanded that he give them information about local rebel groups. The man denied that he had any connection with rebel groups, at which point they shot and killed him.

The victim was from the Massaleit tribe, and was estimated by the witnesses to be around 30 years old.