Gunman kills U.S. diplomat, driver in Sudan (CNN)

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01-01-2008
jcustis

Gunman kills U.S. diplomat, driver in Sudan (CNN)

More at the link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa...mat/index.html

KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) -- An American diplomat working toward restoring peace in war-torn Sudan was shot and killed along with his driver early Tuesday as he headed home from a New Year's party in the Sudanese capital, his family said.

U.S. officials are working with Sudanese authorities to determine whether it was a targeted attack or an isolated incident.
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If someone happens to be inclined to research official DoS postings regarding this, please do post the results here.
01-02-2008
Tom Odom

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcustis

More at the link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa...mat/index.html

KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) -- An American diplomat working toward restoring peace in war-torn Sudan was shot and killed along with his driver early Tuesday as he headed home from a New Year's party in the Sudanese capital, his family said.

U.S. officials are working with Sudanese authorities to determine whether it was a targeted attack or an isolated incident.
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If someone happens to be inclined to research official DoS postings regarding this, please do post the results here.

Latest I heard was that he was a USAID officer.
01-02-2008
Stan

Very little information anywhere other than at USAID's home page.

The African press still conclude it was a mere argument between drivers and one went 'LA-Style' postal with a firearm. His wounds would indicate otherwise though.

Quote:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has learned that two members of our valued professional team were shot and killed early this morning in Khartoum, Sudan. John Granville, 33, an American officer and Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama, 39, a locally employed Sudanese national, were serving the common interests of the U.S. and the Sudan in bringing peace and stability to a country that has long been wracked by violence and conflict.

We are working closely with local authorities to investigate the incident.
01-02-2008
bourbon

U.S. Diplomat and Driver Are Shot Dead in Sudan, By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN. The New York Times, January 2, 2008.

Quote:

In Washington, the Agency for International Development identified the diplomat as one of its officials, John Granville, 33, originally of Buffalo. American officials said it was “too early to tell” if the shooting had been random or planned, but Sudanese officials said the circumstances were suspicious, especially because gun crime is rare in Khartoum, considered one of the safest cities in Africa.

The United Nations had recently warned its staff in Sudan that there was credible evidence that a terrorist cell was in the country and planning to attack foreigners.

According to Western officials, Mr. Granville left a New Year’s Eve party at the British Embassy around 2:30 a.m. and was being driven to his home in an upscale neighborhood in central Khartoum. Shortly before he arrived, a car pulled up next to him and 17 shots were fired, Sudanese officials said.

Mr. Granville’s driver, a Sudanese employee of the American Embassy, was killed instantly, and Mr. Granville was shot in the neck and chest. He was taken to the hospital and died several hours later.

The Sudanese Interior Ministry identified the driver as Abdel Rahman Abbas, 40.

A Sudanese government official said that the attack appeared well planned. The assailants’ car sped in front of the diplomat’s car, cutting it off. Two gunmen got out of their car, with one of them shooting Mr. Granville and the other shooting the driver, the official said.

Quote:

Mr. Granville had served the Agency for International Development in Sudan as well as Nairobi. A photo on the agency’s Web site shows Mr. Granville standing amid a crowd of African women, each holding a radio distributed by the agency.

Mr. Granville had been deeply involved in a project to distribute 450,000 radios equipped with generator cranks and solar panels, which work in places with no electricity.

The goal was to prepare southern Sudan for elections in 2009 and a possible referendum in 2011 on independence, according to Shari K. Bryan, who is a senior associate and regional director for East and Southern Africa at the National Democratic Institute, a nonprofit, pro-democracy group based in Washington.

A list of some US diplomats and officials killed while working abroad. The Associated Press, January 1, 2008.