Sudan attacks rebels’ position in South Darfur
January 24, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan military planes attacked a location in southern Darfur recently controlled by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement which took it from a group led by Minni Minawi.
The aerial attack comes after statements by the governor of South Darfur earlier this week about military build-up by the Sudanese army around Muhageriya, 80 km from Nyala the capital of the state, in order to dislodge the rebel group.
The Sudanese army “troops are surrounding Muhajaria. Fighting is going on between us and the JEM,” Sudanese army spokesman Abdel Al-Samiya Hajj al-Hassan without elaborating. Also Nureddine Mezni, the spokesperson of hybrid peacekeeping mission, confirmed the air raid.
JEM commanders claim the Sudanese army destructed around 25 houses in the town during the bombardment which took place on Saturday morning.
UN officials also said Minnawi is mobilizing troops around his former stronghold town to take part in the attack on JEM forces that seized Muhageriya on January 15.
The former rebel leader who is the Senior Presidential Assistant Minni Minnawi accused JEM of working to impose its self as unique rebel movement in Darfur before the peace talks. Also he failed to persuade the rebels to leave Muhageriya peacefully.
The Speaker of JEM Legislative Council, El-Tahir El-Faki says they are welcomed by the local population who blame Minnawi troops of imposing heavy taxes. The rebels also allege they were the first to control the location up to 2005.
The UNAMID said alarmed for the lives and safety of the civilian population and warned that continued fighting could lead to a catastrophic humanitarian situation for the 30,000 residents and displaced civilians.
On another register, the Sudanese army apologized to the former rebels after killing inadvertently five of Minnawi troops during an attack near Guirada , in south Darfur. The defense minister Abdelrahim Hussein said they took Minnawi fighters for JEM rebels.
JEM denied any involvement on Thursday’s attack.
The United Nations estimate that up to 300,000 people in Darfur have died and more than 2.7 million have been displaced since the uprising against Sudanese government started in February 2003. But Khartoum dismisses the figures saying only some 10,000 died.
(ST)