Sudanese army denies allied militiamen assaulted officer

October 12, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) denied reports that one of its officers had been assaulted by elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in East Darfur, reaffirming the close cooperation between the regular forces and the militiamen.

Reacting on Sunday to a picture circulated on social media over the weekend of a SAF brigadier general wearing clothes stained with the blood, SAF spokesperson Khaled al-Sawarmi said the military officer was assaulted by angry crowd in the troubled East Darfur state capital Ed Daein.

According to al-Sawarmi, the attack on Brigadier General Essam Mustafa Srour who commands the 25th brigade in Ed Daein followed his attempt to convince the crowd to allow the departure of a train they blocked at the railways station.

The train was coming from Nyala, to head for the capital of Khartoum.

“The misunderstanding prompted some citizens to attack the brigade commander”, he said alluding to rumours that the train had been loaded with weapons to Ma’alia tribe which has regular clashes with the Rizeigat tribe in East Darfur state.

Ed Daein is the chief town of Rizeigat territory in East Darfur state, while the Ma’alia centre is in Adila, which borders North Darfur and South Kordofan states.

On the other hand, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia under the command of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), dismissed reports that the assailants are members of the irregular forces.

In a statement published on its Facebook page, the RSF distanced themselves from the attack on the army general saying they have no troops in Ed Daein.

The RSF said a large number of people prevented the train from leaving the town and asked the authorities to inspect it following rumours about weapons and ammunitions transported by the train.

The statement further said the brigadier general who arrived to the railways station with seven military vehicles insulted the crowd gathered in the station, prompting a hostile reaction.

Despite its obvious criticism to the brigadier general, the militia which gathers elements from Arab tribes in Darfur and South Kordofan, reiterated its support to the Sudanese army.

The RSF further denounced the rumours about its involvement in the attack saying such reports are disseminated by the “fifth column” which aim only “to break up the cohesion” of the government forces.

(ST)