Darfur JEM clashes with former rebel group

May 9, 2009 (EL-FASHER) – Rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) today clashed in North Darfur with former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minawi near the border with Chad.

“There were air raids this morning near Umm Baru,” northwest of the North Darfur capital of El-Fasher, said a JEM official, Suleiman Sandal.

The rebel official further said that they defeated joint Sudanese army and Minnawi troops during an ambush made by the assailants. He also said they had captured light and heavy weapons.

Noureddine Mezni, the UNAMID spokesperson told reporters they received unconfirmed reports that JEM rebels had clashed with army troops backed by SLA-Minnawi fighters.

Around 160 people, mostly women, children and the elderly, took refuge at the UNAMID base in Umm Baru during the fighting.

The SLA-Minnawi, a former rebel leader turned Senior Presidential Assistant after the signing of a peace agreement with the Sudanese government on May 5, 2006.

Osman al-Aghbash, the official spokesperson of Sudan Armed Forces dismissed “allegations” that the army was involved in the Saturday fighting.

“The clashes pitted the JEM against the SLA-Minnawi,” Aghbash said.

Sudanese government and JEM rebels are discussing since Wednesday ways to ensure the implementation of a goodwill agreement brokered by the Qatari government and Djibril Bassolé the joint peace mediator.

However the US envoy said he wishes the warring party sign a ceasefire agreement to halt hostilities and protect the civilian population. But Khartoum and rebels still need time to agree on a compromise.

(ST)