Sudanese army, rebel JEM renew fighting in West Darfur

April 12, 2008 (EL-GENEINA) — Sudanese army and Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) claimed victory following the renewal of fierce fighting in West Darfur.

JEM troops attacked, on Saturday at 4:00pm (local time) the newly established Kushkush base of the Sudan armed Forces, 45km, north of El-Geneina and west of Jabal Moon, in West Darfur.

JEM military spokesperson, Ali Wafi, said on Saturday their troops completely annihilated the military garrison, and the soldiers were “flushed out of their trenches for surrender or death.”

Wafi further said that a helicopter gunship was downed and another took a direct hit but its fate is not clear. He added that JEM troops seized a number of vehicles.

In Khartoum the Sudanese army spokesperson, Brigadier Osman Mohamed Al Aghbash, said that the army repelled the assailants forces. He indicated that SAF caused heavy losses in lives and equipment among the troops of the Justice and Equality Movement.

He pointed out that the rebel forces moved from the Chadian area of(Borak), which leads to Jebel Moon.

He further said that the rebel forces that launched its attack were supported by 100 Chadian vehicles He indicated that the army destroyed a significant number of these vehicles.

Sudan and Chad used to trade accusations of supporting respective rebel groups despite the siging of many non-aggression pacts.

Since last December, West Darfuris have been caught up in increasingly violent clashes involving Sudan’s Armed Forces, insurgent groups, and the forces of neighbouring Chad.

The Darfur conflict marked a grim five-year anniversary with peace talks in tatters, the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping mission running drastically below capacity and 4.2 million people living on aid handouts.

(ST)