Protest over Victim's Death Leads to Additional Killings in Al-Geneina

March 26, 2007

AL-GENEINA.  The killing of one man on March 25 led to more casualties after people gathered to protest his death, according to Damanga’s correspondents.

Five witnesses who asked to remain anonymous reported that Adam Ali Abdallah al-Helu was walking home from his store in the Hai-althora district of Al-Geneina at approximately 8  p.m. on Sunday, March 25, when he was shot by an unspecified number of janjaweed militia members.

Mr. al-Helu, age 62 and a member of the Bargo tribe, was a retired member of the Sudanese army who had became a merchant.  After the attack, he died while being taken to Al-Geneina’s main hospital.  Witnesses said that a crowd of his friends, relatives and neighbors gathered in front of the hospital, and that they became agitated upon receiving news of his death.

Damanga’s correspondents reported that within 30 minutes, the governor of western Darfur ordered police to advance on the crowd, which numbered between 20 and 25 people.  The police fired on the crowd without warning them or ordering them to disperse, and at least three casualties resulted.

Khedija Abdallah, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, was shot through the torso.  A member of the Tama tribe, she was a neighbor Mr. al-Helu.  The gunshot wound killed Ms. Abdallah’s unborn child, and she is currently in the hospital in critical condition.

An unnamed man reported to be a friend and business associate of Mr. al-Helu was shot and instantly killed.  He was thought to be 28 years old.

In addition, a 12-year-old boy named Atif, from the Massaleit tribe, was shot and killed.