SRF rebels claim Mali Islamist groups arrived in Darfur
February 6, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) has claimed that fighters of a Malian Islamist group have arrived in North Darfur state as they fled northern Mali after attacks by the French and Malian armies.
In a statement released on Tuesday, SRF spokesperson Abul Gasim Imam affirmed that members of Ansar Al-Dine group entered into the country through Al-Kufra, Libya, in full co-ordination with the Sudanese government and the North Darfur authorities.
Fighters from Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), mainly Algerians and Mauritanians plus Malian Tuareq rebel groups who demand regional autonomy and African Islamists from the Fulani ethnic group had taken the control of northern Mali since April 2012.
Ansar Al-Dine is composed of Malian Tuaregs led by Iyad Ag Ghali. The group which was present in all the northern Mali are seen are as host group of Al-Qaida fighters.
Imam further said the new comers stationed in Jebel Marey of Mulagat area 15 Kilometres north east of Kutum in North Darfur state.
He further said the alleged presence of the Malian group in western Sudan is a strong evidence of Sudan’s support for Al-Qaida and terrorism in the region.
Further, he called upon the UN and the international community to hunt the group down.
Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi in a similar statement alleged that Sudanese and Libyan government are collaborating together in the operation and work to redeploy Ansar Al-Dine on the common border.
Khartoum and Tripoli agreed recently to form a joint force to monitor the border to prevent the smuggling of weapons and illegal immigration.
(ST)