Sudanese defense minister visits West Darfur

January 19, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein declared West Darfur state free of rebels after a short visit to the region to inspect the Sudanese army troops deployed in Jebel Moon and Kulbous and Sarba.

The visit took place after the recent arrest of some leading rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement including Sir Gibriel Tia Kuku, Political Advisor to JEM chairman and Mahjoub Jazouli Izzalarab, Deputy head of JEM Administration for Darfur region.

The state of West Darfur is free of the insurgency, Abdel Rahim said according to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) spokesperson Al-Swarmi Khalid. The minister also praised the capture JEM leading commanders.

“We will protect Darfur and there is no room for the rebels to undermine development projects, he stressed.

The minister was briefed at the headquarters of the fifteenth infantry division in El Geneina about the military plans to protect the region during the upcoming period.

Abdel-Rahim resolved issues related to the integration in the army of former rebels signatory to peace agreements with the government. Also he reviewed the protection of the commercial convoys.

The recent capture of JEM officials ambushed near El-Geneina is seen by the army as an opportunity to galvanize its troops demoralized by recent rebel attacks in South and North Darfur region.

The government announced recently its intention to implement a peace plan to end Darfur conflict. The army in accordance with this strategy has to protect civilians and create the necessary conditions to launch development projects in the region.

(ST)