Al-Tijani Karshoum
Al-Tijani Karshoum | |
|---|---|
| Governor of West Darfur (de facto) | |
| Assumed office 31 June 2023 (acting since 14 June 2023) | |
| Disputed with | Bahr al-Din Adam Karama (since 28 July 2024) |
| Preceded by | Khamis Abakar |
| Deputy governor of West Darfur | |
| In office July 2022 – 31 June 2023 | |
| Governor | Khamis Abakar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Al-Tijani Al-Tahir Karshoum |
| Occupation | Tribal leader, politician |
Al-Tijani Al-Tahir Karshoum is a Sudanese tribal leader. As of 31 June 2023 he is the de facto governor of West Darfur. He previously served as deputy governor of the state since July 2022.
Career
Karshoum is a member of the Mahamid tribe[1] and is a Rizeigat Arab like Hemedti.[2] His community is based in Al-Jabal, Geneina. The United Nations panel of experts on Sudan described Karshoum as a member of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces, which had signed the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement.[3] In July 2022 Karshoum was named deputy governor of West Darfur, under governor Khamis Abakar.[3][4] During this period he also served as head of the state's security committee.[5]
In the period May-June 2023 several witnesses stated they saw Karshoum during the Battle of Geneina with Arab tribal militiamen and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forces and that he was instructing and rallying the forces.[4] After the assassination of Abakar on 14 June, Karshoum first declined to become acting governor. After local leaders convinced him to become acting governor, with support of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, he assumed the position on 31 June 2023.[6] In the week after Abakar's death Karshoum together with RSF commander Abdul Rahman Jumma established a committee to gather and bury the bodies left after the battle.[5]
In December 2023 the Federal Minister of Government dismissed Karshoum. Several hundred people protested in Geneina against the decision.[7] In January 2024 Karshoum stated that schools in Geneina would be open again after months of closure.[8] On 28 July 2024 the Transitional Sovereignty Council under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, appointed Bahr al-Din Adam Karama as governor to replace Karshoum. Karama remained in Port Sudan however as the state of West Darfur was under control by the RSF.[9]
On 16 December 2024 Karshoum was sanctioned by the European Union under Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3156, together with: Salah Abdallah Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Ali Ahmed Subir and Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed. They were added to an existing list of six individuals.[1] On 5 March 2025 Karshoum was also subjected to sanctions by Canada under the Special Economic Measures Act.[10][11]
In April 2025 a counterterrorism court in Port Sudan started a trial in absentia against Karshoum and 15 others, charging them with the assassination of Khamis Abakar.[12]
On 19 October 2025 two guards of Karshoum were killed and he himself was injured in a possible drone strike on the civil government headquarters of West Darfur.[13]
References
- ^ a b "COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/3156 of 16 December 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2147 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan". Official Journal of the European Union. 16 December 2024. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025.
- ^ Africa Yearbook Volume 20: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2023. BRILL. 23 September 2024. ISBN 978-90-04-69697-6.
- ^ a b "Letter dated 15 January 2024 from the Panel of Experts on the Sudan addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations. 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b Michael, Maggie (28 December 2023). "The Sudanese commanders waging war on the Masalit". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ a b ""The Massalit Will Not Come Home" Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El Geneina, West Darfur, Suda". Human Rights Watch. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2025.
- ^ "Karshoom takes over as West Darfur acting governor". Darfur24. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025.
- ^ "Protest processions in El Geneina appoint "Karshoum" as governor of West Darfur state". darfurfollowups.org. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025.
- ^ "West Darfur: Schools in El Geneina resume after months of closure". Radio Tamazuj. 8 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025.
- ^ "Al-Burhan approves appointment of Bahr al-Din Adam Karama as governor of West Darfur". Darfur24. 28 July 2024. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Minister Joly announces additional sanctions in response to ongoing conflict in Sudan". Government of Canada. 5 March 2025. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025.
- ^ "Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Sudan) Regulations: SOR/2025-69". Government of Canada. 26 March 2025. Archived from the original on 5 October 2025.
- ^ "Sudan tries RSF Hemetti In Absentia for West Darfur governor assassination". Sudan Tribune. 20 April 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Death of Civil Administration Chief's Guards in West Darfur". darfurfollowups.org. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025.