Rapid Support Forces ambush peace groups in West Darfur
May 24 2023 (EL GENEINA) – Four members of a joint force belonging to armed factions that signed the peace agreement were killed on Tuesday after being ambushed by the Rapid Support Force (RSF) in West Darfur state.
Since April 15, El Geneina and several areas in West Darfur state have witnessed tribal fighting between the Masalit and Arab tribes, which erupted shortly after clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum.
Armed militias backed by the Support Forces launched a sweeping attack on all neighbourhoods of El Geneina. Inter-tribal battles have killed more than 500 people, massive destruction of infrastructure and complete blackouts of electricity, water and communications networks.
“A joint force of 19 military vehicles belonging to the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF), the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) were ambushed by RSF troops backed by gunmen affiliated with Arab tribes,” an SLM-MM official told Sudan Tribune on the condition of anonymity because the groups failed to agree on the issuance of a joint statement.
“The ambush was set up near the Serba area, 23 kilometres north of El Geneina,” he said, while the Movements’ forces escorted the commercial convoy heading to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state.
He reported that the incident led to the killing of four members of the joint force, the injury of 17 others, and the capture of three.
He further indicated that the force was able to protect the convoy and reached El Geneina intact.
Another source said the joint force escorted the commercial convoy to El-Geneina without coordinating with the paramilitary forces.
An agreement was signed on April 27 by four groups, who are signatory of the Juba Peace Agreement – SLM-MM, JEM, GSLF, and the Sudanese Alliance. They agreed to deploy joint forces to ensure the safety and security of North Darfur state.
Leaders of the armed movements said they intended to extend their activities to all parts of the Darfur region following the security vacuum created by the clashes between the army and the paramilitary forces.
(ST)