In a tragic turn of events, Khamis Abdallah Abkar, the governor of West Darfur state and leader of the Sudanese Alliance, was killed on Wednesday following the outbreak of armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum two months ago.

The assassination of Governor Abkar took place just two hours after he conducted a phone interview with Al-Hadath TV, where he made grave accusations against the RSF and Arab armed militias, accusing them of targeting and killing civilians in the capital city of West Darfur state. He urgently appealed to the international community for intervention, highlighting the incapacity of the Sudanese army and the joint forces of the Darfur armed movements to protect the remaining population.

According to reports, Abkar was swiftly arrested by the Rapid Support Forces shortly after his television appearance. Subsequently, a distressing video circulated on social media, showing his lifeless body covered in blood while unidentified individuals cheered in the background, intentionally obscuring their identities.

The conflict in West Darfur state has been marked by intense intercommunal clashes between Arab militiamen and the Massalit people since the hostilities erupted in Khartoum on April 15 between the army and the RSF. Over time, the paramilitary forces and tribal militiamen gained control over the city, exacerbating the situation.

Condemnations followed the governor's assassination, with the Sudanese army issuing a statement denouncing the act and holding the RSF accountable for his arrest and subsequent killing. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sovereign Council, also expressed his condemnation, emphasizing his status as a signatory to the Juba Peace Agreement.

Several groups that are signatories to the Juba agreement released statements condemning the governor's assassination but refrained from directly accusing the Rapid Support Forces. Notable among these groups are the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Hadi Idris, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi, and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Ibrahim Gibril.

The Sudanese Alliance, the political coalition under which Governor Abkar served, also condemned the heinous act. Sadiq Ibrahim Al-Moghaddam, the commander of the alliance forces, asserted their right to respond to the tragedy.

As of now, the Rapid Support Forces have not issued an official statement in response to Abkar's assassination. However, a video featuring the RSF Commander in West Darfur, Abdel Rahman Jumma, surfaced, showing the arrest of the governor before his untimely and unfortunate death. (ILKHA)