AU says all rebel coalition plans to attack African force in Darfur
Dec 5, 2006 (AL-FASHER) — The African Union said today that a rebel attack is expected against the AU peacekeeping force in the capital of North Darfur. The attack could be carried by a rebel coalition from the signatories and the non-signatories groups.
The African Union is a press statement on Tuesday said it received reports that a rebel coalition plans to attack Al-Fasher within 24 hours and the AU force in the town could be targeted by the rebels.
The AU accused nominally the SLA –Minawi faction which signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with Khartoum last May, and another faction of the SLA opposed to the DPA known as (G19) and the National Redemption Front (NRF), an alliance of different rebel groups opposed to the DPA.
The situation continues to be extremely tense in North Darfur after the ultimatum posed yesterday by Minni Minawi, the Senior Presidential Advisor to pull out from the DPA if the Janjaweed militia continues to attack Darfur civilians.
Violence erupted after truckloads of men from the government backed Janjaweed militia entered the town of Al Fasher and started looting the market. The SLM-Minawi faction said five members of its armed wing were killed.
But the AU indicated in its statement that the five SLM soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were treated at the AMIS Hospital in Al Fasher. Two of the injured SLA soldiers and two militia elements have been dead, while the number of injured Arab militias is unknown.
The United Nations evacuated staff and international aid workers from Al Fasher “as a result of increased janjaweed presence in the town and armed movements in the area,” said Radhia Achouri, the spokeswoman for the U.N. mission in Sudan.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission condemned the militia attack against Al-Fasher civilians on 4 December 2006. he also warned the rebel coalition that “any threat to AMIS camps, personnel and properties, would be viewed as a deliberate violation of the ceasefire Agreements and Protocols, as well as a provocation against AMIS Forces whose main objective is to ensure that peace and stability are restored to the region.”
Furthermore, the Chairperson appeals to all the parties to immediately cease any kind of hostilities since only a political solution remains the viable option for a comprehensive and lasting peace to the conflict in Darfur.
(ST)