AU disseminating false Sudanese reports – Darfur commander

Dec 8, 2006 (PARIS) — A rebel commander in the war-torn Darfur region accused African Union of disseminating false reports concocted by the Sudanese security service. The field commander denied any plan to attack the AU headquarter in Al-Fasher.

Suleiman Marjan, a leading rebel commander in the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) Abdelwahid al-Nur faction, told Sudan Tribune by satellite phone that they have no any attention to attack the capital of North Darfur as it had been announced by the African Union.

In an interview that we will post Monday, the commander said the African Union’s report is fabricated by the Sudanese government to spread fears among the UN personal and push them to withdraw from the region.

Marjan said SLA troops would never attack big towns in Darfur adding “this is a strategic choice because if we attack Al-Fasher we would give green light to Khartoum and its militia to implement their schema to achieve the extermination of our people in the IDPs camps”, he explained.

“Reports received earlier today from the field indicate that the city of El Fasher is under threat of attack within 24 hours by a coalition comprising the SLA (M), the G19 and the National Redemption Front (NRF),” the AU, which has a 7,000-strong force in Darfur, said in a statement on 5 December.

Minawi, also had dismissed the AU statement, saying he is committed to the Darfur Peace Agreement. The former rebel leader invited the AU to clarify the source of this unfounded information.

(ST)