Sudanese army dismiss rebel statements over major attack on Khartoum
December 23, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) downplayed statements by a Darfur rebel group on the launch of major attack to overthrow the Sudanese regime and claimed the assailants aggressed looted civilians in North Kordofan state.
The Sudanese army spokesperson on Friday confirmed an attack by JEM fighters in North Kordofan’s Um Qozain, Qoz Abyad and Armal areas, not far from the North Darfur where the rebels are based. Al-Sawarmi Khaled said the rebels attacked the inhabitants of the three locations.
He pointed out the that the regular forces, army and police, have no presence in these areas. The military spokesperson further accused the rebels of targeting the civilians and lootings their belongings.
Al-Sawarmi further said that the army pursued the rebels and they are now conducting combing operations the area.
JEM which was participating in the Doha process to end Darfur conflict not sign a peace agreement with the government. The rebel group with two other factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) formed last November an alliance to overthrow the regime. They also formed two political and military committee.
Gibreel Adam Bilal, JEM spokesperson dismissed the army’s statements saying their troops did not attack the civilians in North Kordofan. “Our fighters have a clear political objective and they never attacked civilians during our long years of struggle,” he said.
He also said their forces left the area and now are moving eastwards to Khartoum and left the area.
“The battle of Khartoum has already started, JEM combatants have a role to implement like the other members of Sudanese Resistance Front (SRF) who all participate in this operation, ” Ahmed said.
He added that attack is coordinated by the joint military committee formed On 11 November by the four rebel groups members of Kauda alliance.
The Sudanese army, to avoid simultaneous attacks from different fronts by the rebel groups on the capital, retook the control of the whole Blue Nile state from the SPLM-N rebels and control large areas of the South Kordofan. The clashes occur now in the Nuba Mountains only.
In Darfur, the region is relatively calm since the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) led by Tijani el-Sissi.
In May 2008, when JEM launched their attack on the Sudanese capital, the rebels quickly moved from different directions to reach Khartoum.
The Sudanese army repulsed the assault and accused the then head of security and intelligence Salah Gosh of withholding information their troops. The military also decided to prepare plans to protect the capital from such attacks in the future.
(ST)