Second Darfur village attacked following two child abductions – SLM-M
November 24, 2008 (EL FASHER) – The rebel faction that signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) in 2006 accused the Government of Sudan (GoS) of attacking another village, following allegations from the same group on Friday that the army attacked a village just to the south, abducting two children.
The village is the second one controlled by SLA-M that was allegedly attacked by government forces in the wake of an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire declared by Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir on Nov. 12.
The SLA-M commander reported the attack to the UN-African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID), which will probe the attack. When contacted by UNAMID, the GoS liaison officer denied the allegation.
A 14-member delegation from SLA-M complained on Friday to the UNAMID company located at Shaeria in South Darfur, saying that Sudanese army and Janjaweed from Shaeria had attacked their location, Abu Dangel, about 125 kilometres northeast of Nyala.
The attackers abducted two children and stole 50 camels, according to Fadel Hussein Abdullah, who led the delegation. The locals said that they were bombed by aircraft on the following day. A UNAMID team verified that there were four craters, two showing signs of explosions and two containing unexploded ordnance.
“The locals contend that this was the result of bombings by GoS,” stated UNAMID, adding that villagers requested that UNAMID assist to remove unexploded ordnance in the village.
The UNAMID team was also able to visit the site where the children and camels were allegedly seized.
Minawi is the sole rebel chief to sign the DPA on May 5, 2006. The accord was rejected by the other rebel groups who were negotiating with the Sudanese government in Abuja. Minawi, now a senior presidential assistant, signed an understanding in September to facilitate the implementation of the DPA.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday the US Chargé d’Affaires Alberto Fernandez cited the non-implementation of the DPA and the September understanding.
(ST)