Central Darfur governor vows to capture last rebel stronghold in Jebel Marra soon
February 20, 2016 (ZALINGEI) – Governor of Central Darfur state Ga’afar Abdel-Hakam Saturday has vowed that the Sudanese army would destroy the last bastions of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abel-Wahid al-Nur in Jebel Marra within the next two days.
Earlier this month, the Sudanese army claimed clearing armed rebels from 17 areas in Jebel Marra and called on civilians in the area to return to their villages and resume a normal life.
Abdel-Hakam, who addressed a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the capital of Central Darfur state, Zalingei Saturday, said that large numbers of rebels have fled Jebel Marra following their defeat while others died or joined the peace process, stressing the army will pursue and defeat the rebel remnants in Sroring area soon.
In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune Saturday, Abdel-Hakam called on the rebels to join the peace process and abandon the SLM leader, saying the latter would soon return to Sudan alone.
He added that the government welcomes any move by the rebels towards peace, stressing however that the army wouldn’t hesitate to defeat the rebels and secure the country.
Abdel-Hakam pointed to the security stability in Central Darfur state during the past two years, saying the stable security situation enabled his government to accomplish major development and services projects.
He called for further cooperation among the various components of the community in order to encourage the government to provide more services.
The fighting in Jebel Marra has forced over 44,000 people to flee the area said OCHA office in Sudan last week. The UN body said 31,000 IDPs are now in North Darfur and 13,000 moved to Central Darfur.
(ST)