Darfur SLA rebels kill over 100 soldiers; repulse government attack
Nov 19, 2006 (ALFASHIR) — A Darfur rebel group yesterday repulsed an attack by Sudanese army and the government backed militia in North Darfur. The rebels inflicted heavy casualties on the assailant forces, a statement said on Sunday.
Rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) forces on Saturday 18 November repulsed an attack by Sudanese regular forces on SLA’s position in the area of Saa’nie Aa’yah about 25km north of Maleit in North Darfur.
According to a SLA statement, the rebel forces captured 21 vehicles (intact), destroyed nine vehicles, over one hundred government and Janjaweed troops were killed including a Gen. Brigadier of the Sudanese army who was the commander of the assailant forces, as well as many POWs captured.
The rebels lost seven fighters who were killed by a helicopter gunship.
SLM/A Chairman Designate, Ahmed Abdelshafi, who replaced Abdelwahid al-Nur, denounced the government’s attack. He said it was a desperate attempt by the Government of Sudan to prevent a scheduled meeting of the SLM/A Field Commanders in Darfur which is (the meeting) aimed at re-uniting all SLM/A factions.
Since Last October all the factions of the SLM/A are engaged in concentrations in order to rebuild a united group. Abdelshafi “assured the Sudanese people and the people of Darfur that, the SLM/A is pressing ahead with resolve to unifying all its factions” the statement said.
The SLM, who opposes Darfur Peace Agreement, is the unique holdout group committed to the ceasefire agreement and they are represented in the Ceasefire Commission headed by the African Union in al-Fashir.
The SLM/A condemned the negative attitude of the African Union which is incapable to prevent repetitive violations of the ceasefire. Abdelshafi requested the deployment of international peacekeeping force in the region.
The rebel leader is also dismissing the accord signed between some SLM field commanders (led by Abuelgasim Imam) and the government in Tripoli, Libya yesterday. Abelshafi says “that, these field commanders are not representing the SLM/A and they’re only representing themselves and their hidden agenda”.
Reliable rebel sources told Sudan Tribune that Imam is one of rebel commander who committed atrocities in Darfur and his name is among the wanted rebel leaders by the International Criminal Court. “So he joined the government because he fears the arrest by the ICC”.
(ST)