Sudan says expecting rebel attack on Darfur capital
May 10, 2009 (EL-FASHER) — Sudan said today it was expecting a rebel attack on the capital of North Darfur State, Al-Fasher, expressing its readiness to deal with any assailants.
The minister pointed to the movements by JEM fighters at the north-western borders of the country’s saying they have the support of the Government of Chad.
The minister made a short visit on Sunday morning to the capital of North Darfur state to inspect the security situation and review military plans to secure the three capitals of the region, particularly Al-Fasher. He also visited Nyala the capital of South Darfur state where he inaugurated some new buildings for the Sudanese army there.
Reports from Khartoum say the security services have expected since a month a major attack on one of the capitals of the three states in Darfur region. JEM rebels also threatened to attack the region.
More than a year ago JEM warned it would attack the West Darfur capital at El-Geneina and told civilians and aid workers to stay in their compounds and away from government military bases. Though the insurgents have never held any of the region’s major towns, a successful raid on the El Fasher airport in 2003 inflamed the situation in Darfur.
Two days ago JEM clashed with the former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement of the Senior Presidential Assistant Minni Minnawi, near Umm Baru, northwest of El-Fasher. JEM official Suleiman Sendal accused the SAF of taking part in the fighting but the army’s spokesperson dismissed the charge.
Reliable sources from El Fasher said the visit of the defense minister to the region was also motivated by the tension between the Sudanese army and a local militia called Border Intelligence Division.
Two members of the militia were killed by the Sudanese army after refusing to be disarmed on Friday. On Saturday they attacked the SAF and killed two soldiers to revenge the deaths Friday.
The Sudanese government and JEM rebels are holding talks in Doha on the resumption of the peace process and the implemtation of the goodwill agreement signed last February.
(ST)
Dinka Aliap Chawul
Sudan says expecting rebel attack on Darfur capital
Mr Hussein should aspects nothing from Chadian govt but serious attack on suspected Arabs in Darfur since they`ve been doing decades destructives policies against all our neighbours in the name of Sudanese people.I hope Chadian African brothers teaches you more lessons this time that you will never forgets.Arabs Sponsored govt in Sudan is on the verge of collapsing now keep on your struggles dear African in Sudan to free yourselves from marganisations,enslavements,tortures,displacement,killings,genocides etc we would never ever fail the struggles.These policies of controlling towns/cities by Arabs and displacing the inhabitants in Darfur were also used in S.Sudan but earn them nothing more than public hatred against them and lossing of ground to its natives now.LONG LIVES AFRICA!!!!,LONG LIVES SOUTHERNERS!!! LONG LIVES DARFURIANS!!!!.GOD BLESS OUR BLACK LAND