Rebel groups attack Sudanese army in North Darfur
March 6, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — The rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said today that its fighters, jointly with another rebel faction, have ambushed a Sudanese army convoy in North Darfur state.
JEM spokesperson, Gibreel Adam Bilal said in a press statement given to Sudan Tribune that their troops, jointly with the Sudan Liberation Movement –Unity (SLM-Unity) of Abdellah Yahia attacked the convoy at Baashim in North Darfur at 4:00pm local time.
He claimed that they crashed the mobile government force which is composed of 138 vehicles and eight military tanks. He added that they will release soon the details of casualties inflicted on the Sudanese army.
The Sudanese army spokesperson was not available to comment on the attack.
The SLM-Unity faction is not member of the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) which pledges to topple the Sudanese regime. But Gibreel said that this attack is part of SRF strategy against Khartoum.
SRF believe they should undertake several military operations at the same time in different locations with the aims of dispersing the efforts of the Sudanese army and gradually reduce its strength.
Asked whether small factions that fight besides JEM have any link with the SRF, the rebel spokesperson said their allies like SLM-Unity and SLM-Ali Karbino have demanded to join the alliance and their demands will be considered soon.
JEM, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SPLM-AW) and Minni Minnawi (SPLM-MM) are the three Darfur rebel groups who agreed to join with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) to form a joint military command.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) today called on the Sudanese government to engage in talks with the SPLM-N on the basis of a framework agreement signed on 28 June 2011 but rejected by Sudanese president.
With regard to Darfur rebel groups the United Nations and the African Union are studying a road map aiming to bring them to join the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.
(ST)