MEDIA STATEMENT

The Rapid Support Forces strongly condemns the recent assassination of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abkar by outlaws amid the continuing tribal conflict in the state. We hold the Sudanese Military Intelligence, a wing of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and its radical Islamist backers linked to the former regime of dictator Omar al-Bashir responsible for fueling this conflict by arming the tribes.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities on April 15, the Sudanese Military Intelligence actively engaged in seditious activities, including recruiting tribal elements and distributing weapons, with the aim of inciting a civil war in Darfur. Substantial evidence supports these claims.

Our forces have refrained from interfering in the conflict, diligently monitoring the situation, issuing warnings, and calling for an end to the fighting between the tribal factions. Unfortunately, these appeals for calm have gone unanswered.

The tribal clashes in West Darfur, which we previously anticipated and sought to address through local and regional cooperation, have resulted in the loss of innocent lives, widespread displacement, and immense human suffering.

The Sudanese Military Intelligence operating in the state has orchestrated these tribal battles, including the recent incident leading to the assassination of Abkar. However, our forces promptly intervened, rescuing him from the outlaws and ensuring his safety.

Despite our efforts to protect the governor, the outlaws launched a large-scale raid that escalated into clashes with our forces, resulting in his abduction and tragic assassination, devoid of any humanity.

We extend our deepest condolences for the loss of life and urge both conflicting parties in West Darfur to exercise restraint, pursue reason, and seize the opportunity to prevent the escalation of this tribal conflict into a full-fledged civil war, as desired by some elements.

We call for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the events leading to the governor's death, the resulting civilian casualties, displacement, and property destruction. This investigation should uncover those involved in conspiring to fuel discord.

We have initiated an investigation to gather comprehensive information on the incident and the overall conflict in West Darfur. We are committed to ensuring that if any member of our force involved in the incident faces legal consequences.

We appeal to regional and international organizations to expedite the provision of humanitarian aid to affected citizens. We also urge them to exert pressure on the SAF to allow the formation of a committee, comprising all concerned parties, to manage El Geneina Airport, currently under our control. This committee would facilitate the reception of humanitarian aid, and we are fully prepared to ensure airport security and the protection of relief teams.