Darfur Arabs create a rebel group, repulse army attack
Dec 6, 2006 (NYALA, South Darfur) — A new rebel group in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region said they repulsed an attack by the army against their position. The rebels identified themselves as belonging to Darfur Arab tribes and struggling against the marginalization of the region.
The Popular Forces Troops (PFT) said in a statement issued Wednesday that they had repulsed an attack by the Sudanese army against their position at Kas-Zallingi Road in South Darfur on Tuesday 5 December.
The rebels said “inflicted heavy causalities on the army, who withdrew from the area, but they didn’t give further details.
“Remnants of the government army fled the battlefield, leaving behind numerous casualties and military hardware;” said a statement signed by commander Yassin Youcif.
The PFT also said it had destroyed Alzubair garrison, about 90 kilometres from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. The statement added the army uses this garrison “as a springboard for terrorizing innocent people and burning down their farms and villages.”
The rebel group said they took up arms against Khartoum to fight marginalization of Darfur region. “Darfur Arab groups believe that Darfur people are fighting for a just cause. The TPF likely supports the struggle of all marginalized Sudanese people against Khartoum’s injustice.”
Further they distanced their self from the government-backed Arab militia that carrying war against the African tribes in the region.
“Those who are now fighting with the government in Darfur are a minority of mercenaries and hired individuals. They do not represent Darfur Arabs and do not embody their heritage, courage and sacrifice for peace and justice.”
The TPF also appealed the Darfur rebel groups which are opposed to the Darfur Peace Agreement – SLM and NRF – to work jointly against the government.
We are “ready to fight with them, shoulder to shoulder, until all demands of Darfur and other marginalized parts of the Sudan are fully realized.”
Since 2003 many Darfur Arab movements announced their opposition to the war launched by the government against the rebels. Some of this groups signed political accords with some of the rebel movements.
(ST)