Former rebels orchestrate attack against police in Darfur – rebels
August 21, 2007 (NYALA) — Troops from the former rebel group of Minni Minawi have attacked police posts near al-Salam camp and brought the looted arms to Kalma camps, a SLM said.
A member of the SLM leadership in Darfur told Sudan Tribune that an armed group belonging to Minni Minawi, the signatory of Abuja agreement, attacked last Saturday police posts near al-Salam camp in the capital of south Darfur, Nyala.
Armed raiders killed a policeman and wounded eight others.
The source said the purpose of the attackers was to loot police arms. “Two of the Minawi men took the looted arms and brought to Kalma camp;” he added.
Located 17 kilometers outside of Nyala, Kalma camp is one of Darfur’s largest camps, with nearly 90,000 inhabitants. Since last year, there is no Sudanese government presence or police in the camp due to disputes with the displaced.
Politically, also the displaced of Kalma camp are known for their support of SLM leader Abdelwahid al-Nur. The UN envoy to Darfur who visited the camp earlier this month entered the camp in spite of the Sudanese government recommendation to no visit it.
According to the rebel source, Minawi orchestrated this operation in order to force the Sudanese government to attack the camp by providing the pretext. As the displaced become now a valuable asset in the conflict Minawi wants to dismantle the camps and to encourage Khartoum to relocate IDPs forcibly, the source pointed out.
“What is happing now is a plan to dismantle the camps, and Minawi wants to prove to Khartoum that still he is the man of the situation. Also he fears for his position as senior presidential aide if Khartoum sign a peace deal with the SLM leadership.” the source said.
Sudanese authorities tried several times in the past to dismantle the IDPs camps but the IDPs refusal and the international pressure led Khartoum to water down its plans.
UN reports say some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes since mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003.
(ST)