Government builds up troops to attack Darfur rebels in Jebel Marra – IDPs

July 14, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — Darfur Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) said today that Sudanese army is building up troops near Jebel Marra in western Darfur in order to dislodge fighters of a rebel group that refuse to take part in the Doha peace process from the area.

Hussein Abu Sharati, the IDPs spokesperson said they have fears that the displaced populations which reside in different camps surrounding the 10,000-foot-high volcanic rock could be affected by the attack.

Many of the IDPs that had already been displaced several times since the conflict began in 2003, are living in camps around the Jebel Marra in areas as Dom Jong, Fujo, Fatma Karal, Kutrum, Kwila, Boldong, Kati and Kurifal.

After the militia attacks against civilians, the displaced choose to be near the Sudan Liberation Movement rebels led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur to protect them from militia attacks.

Abu Sharati told Sudan Tribune from Darfur that International community should dissuade and press Khartoum from carrying attack on the mountainous areas where are the SLM rebels.

He added that the air bombing that they Sudanese troops used to carry out would reach the IDPs camps, and “government should be keen to protect lives of its own citizens.”

He said army closed main routes in the region: Jeneina –Nyala, Nyala El-Fasher and Melit El-Fasher to transport troops.

Al-Nur troops based in the mountains say they observe ceasefire they signed in 2004 with Khartoum and do not take parts in the attacks against the government troops.

However the rebel group refuses to join the Doha peace process asking the government to disarm the militias and to organize the return of IDPs to their homes.

(ST)