SLM-AW rebels seize two more positions in Darfur
December 29, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan Liberations Movement – Abdel Wahid Al-Nur rebels said they took the control of two new positions in their fight against the Sudanese government troops in South and West Darfur states .
On Monday 24 December the SLM-AW fighters captured Golo in Central Darfur state and killed some 90 soldiers. The rebels also said they captured the area’s deputy commissioner. The Sudanese army spokesperson did not comment on these recent clashes.
Nimir Abdel Rahman, SLM-AW spokesperson told Sudan Tribune that on Friday their forces defeated the government forces in Gendiah in South Darfur and Zeldo in West Darfur state. The two locations are part of the mountainous region of Jebel Marra.
The rebel official said they seized Gendiah on Friday morning adding they destroyed 11 vehicles and captured five others.
“In Zeldo, which is located eastward to Zalingei, the fighting started at 06.30pm and ended at 07.45 pm (local time)”, he said claiming that they seized 65 vehicles loaded with weapons besides the capture ammunition deposits in the army’s garrison.
Nimir pointed out that they aim of the recent attacks is to control the areas where the civilians in Darfur suffered from atrocities and violence perpetrated by the regime troops and militias before to head for Khartoum.
“We intend to control the big towns in Darfur before to move towards Khartoum in a joint action with the other forces of Sudan Revolutionary Front,” he said.
The groups member of the SRF say the solution of crisis in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and other areas should start by the removal of the regime of the National Congress Party. In the founding charter of their alliance the rebels vow to dislodge the regime and to attack it in the capital Khartoum.
On the other hand Nimir welcomed the appointment of a new head for the African Union- United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and expressed the movement’s willingness to cooperate with him in the protection of Darfur civilians.
“We are ready to open a new page with Mohamed Ibn Chambas and to cooperate with him. We are confident that he will perform his duties in an independent, neutral, and credible manner,” he said.
The spokesperson added that the SLM-AW leadership is willing to meet him and to hold consultations over security and protection of civilians in Darfur.
The SLM-AW, like the other rebel groups, was very critical to the action of the former UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari who resigned from his post last July.
(ST)