Joint rebel force attacks South Darfur town
April 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A joint force from the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attacked a South Darfur town near the South Sudanese border, a rebel military spokesperson said on Saturday.
During the past weeks, the Sudanese army soldiers and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militiamen prevented Darfur rebel groups from penetrating inside the Sudanese territory through West Kordofan and East Darfur. Sudanese warplanes also bombarded several areas in South Sudan where rebels were alleged to be camping.
In a short statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, SLM-MM military spokesperson Ahmed Ardob claimed that the joint rebel force now controls Buram, 80km south of South Darfur capital Nyala.
According to the statement, SLM-MM and JEM fighters captured the town on Saturday at about 10am (local time) following heavy clashes in which many government soldiers and allied militias were killed.
He added that further details about the operation would be released soon.
From Kass where he was visiting the families of gunmen killed by the UNAMID soldiers, Jar al-Nabi stated that RSF militiamen monitor a “significant force” of JEM and SLM-MM rebels coming from the South Sudan.
The governor said the battle between the government forces and the rebels would begin soon, adding they would not allow them to reach the mountainous area of Jebel Marra.
Sudan Tribune reporters in the state noticed a massive mobilisation of government troops since last Thursday saying that around 500 military vehicles left Nyala heading to Buram and El-Radoom which is on a triangle area bordering Central Africa Republic and South Sudan.
The director of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohmaed Atta, said that the SRF troops are carrying intensive operations in Darfur against the rebel factions and vowed to crush the rebellion this year.
Earlier this year, Atta renewed accusations that South Sudanese government continues to harbour and support Darfur rebel groups but Juba denied the claim.
Since last December the government forces launched a military campaign on the rebel positions in North and Central Darfur states.
(ST)