Darfur rebels kill 64 soldiers, repulse Sudanese army attack on Jebel Marra

February 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) said today they have successfully driven back an attack by the government forces against their positions in Jebel Marra, in northern and southern Darfur killing some 64 soldiers.

The mountainous area of Jebel Marra witnessed recently escalation of violence after some three years of calm, due to attacks by the Sudanese army and inter-factional clashes.

“Yesterday we successfully repelled an attack by the government troops, said Commander Noureddine Janga who led the counterattack in satellite call with Sudan Tribune. He added they pursued the assailants to 10 klm from El-Fasher,North Darfur capital.

The rebel commander said they repulsed the army from positions attacked last Wednesday by the Sudanese army, on Saturday they retook the full control of Aradyeb Al-Asharah, the latest position attacked by the Sudanese army, he stressed.

The rebel commander said they captured 16 vehicles from and significant quantities of arms and ammunitions from the assailants. He also said there is no more factional fighting in the Jebel stressing the assailants were government troops and paramilitary militias.

The Sudanese army during the seven-year-long conflict failed to dislodge the SLA- AW from Jebel Marra, the highest region of the Sudan which inhabited by the Fur ethnic group. Since the start of the conflict many civilians who fear militias attacks remain in the rebel controlled areas.

The recent attacks took place as the rebel groups in Doha have failed to reach consensus on how to negotiate with the government delegation which is in Doha since January 24.

Reacting from Paris, Abdel Wahid Al-Nur said all these attacks were carried out by the government army and militias to force his movement to join the peace process. He added such military victory confirms that the popular will cannot be oppressed forever.

The rebel leader further said his Movement is fighting on five military fronts besides facing other form of pressures like the killing of a SLM student member in Khartoum and the attack on Kass displaced this week.

He further denounced the deafening silence of the international community that he accused of complicity with Khartoum.

Al-Nur also said he is “a peace lover seeking to reach a real and lasting peace in Darfur”. He emphasized that stopping attacks on civilians and disarming militias should be implemented by the government.

“We fight not for office in the government but to protect Darfur people and their interests, he said.

He further pledged that the SLM would work actively to provide security to Darfur civilians. “With our proper military means we will work to ensure protection for the civilians who fled the repeated army and militias attacks.

Aid groups working in the area, told Sudan Tribune the recent fighting triggered an important flow of displaced villagers who fled their homes in Jebel Marra. An aid worker, working in the region, who requested unanimity, said he fears the latest clashes would double the number of displaced to 20,000 people.

(ST)