Sudan: Assassination of West Darfur Governor Introduces Ethnic Element into War

The Guardian published on 15 June 2023 an article titled "Sudan: Paramilitary Forces Blamed for Assassination of West Darfur Governor" by Zeinab Mohammed Salih and Jason Burke. 

UN sources announced that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and nomadic Arab militias brutally killed the governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abdallah Abbakar, who was also a leader of the sedentary Masalit ethnic group.  The RSF denied the charge.  The conflict in Darfur that began 20 years ago was largely between sedentary African farmers, including the Masalit, and nomadic Arab ethnic groups.  

The New York Times published on 15 June 2023 an article titled "Brutal Killing of Governor Heralds New Round of Violence in Darfur" by Declan Walsh.  

The article suggests this incident may push the region into a new ethnic civil war.  The head of the International Rescue Committee warned that Sudan is on course to become the next Syria.  

Refworld posted in 2015 a background piece titled "Sudan: Treatment of the Masalit Ethnic Group in Darfur by Government Authorities and Armed Militias, Including Incidents of Violence" that provides useful information on the Masalit ethnic group.

Ethiopia: Aftermath of an Assassination

Ethiopia Insight posted on 5 August 2020 an account titled "Aftershocks of an Assassination" by Yared Tsegaye, Addis Ababa-based reporter.

The article describes the aftermath of the 30 June killing of popular Ethiopian musician, Hachalu Hundessa Bonsa, which resulted in violence throughout much of Addis Ababa and a number of other cities.  This was followed by a wave of arrests.

Musing on Ethiopian Politics

Ethiopia Insight posted on 24 July 2019 a long commentary titled "Election in End Times" by Alemayehu Weldemariam, a specialist in constitutional law and political theory.

The author argues better that Ethiopia hold a sham election in 2020 than no election at all. The choice is between civil war and peace.

Ethiopia after the Assassinations

The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 25 June 2019 a commentary titled "Restoring Calm in Ethiopia after High-profile Assassinations."

The ICG lays out several steps that it says the Ethiopian government and EPRDF need to take to restore calm in the country.

Response to the assassination of Said Tahlil Ahmed, director of the 'Horn Afrik' radio station

The cowardly attack (see Al Jazeera's story here) early in February on Said Tahlil Ahmed, director of Horn Afrik radio station in Mogadishu, is another setback for peace in Somalia and the establishment of a governmental administration that makes a serious effort to unite Somalis for building a better future. I am convinced that the vast majority of Somalis strongly oppose political assassinations, suicide bombings, and use of land mines by a small minority that is trying to achieve power by any means available to it. The long list of attacks in Somalia on independent journalists is especially reprehensible. The message being conveyed is that political extremists can only have an impact by engaging in cowardly acts. I don't believe Somalis will rally to this cause. Image: "Journalist Said Tahlil Ahmed was killed by gunmen in Somalia, according to a colleague who was with him." Source: CNN.