Sudan arrests 30 civilians in South Darfur after recent attack

May 15, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) accused the Sudanese security service of arresting 30 people in Gueraida a South Darfur area attacked recently by Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) rebel fighters.

A joint rebel force of Abdel Wahid al-Nur’s and Minni Minnawi’s SLM factions attacked Gueraida on 8 May before evacuating the area. The Sudanese army said its troops defeated the rebels but the latter said they pulled out.

Gibreel Adam Bilal, JEM spokesperson said in a statement released Monday that security agents in Gueraida arrested 30 civilians including elders, political and human rights activists as well as women.

He further said three among the detained civilians, two men and a woman from South Sudan whose family settled in the area over 60 years ago, were transferred to an unknown destination.

The rebel official further urged the hybrid peacekeeping operation, UNAMID, to pressure the Sudanese authorities to release them.

The three non-signatory rebel groups, JEM and the two SLM factions, formed last November an alliance pact with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. Accordingly, the four rebel groups said aiming to topple Bashir’s regime.

Tijani Sissi, head of the Darfur Regional Authority told reporters on Monday following a meeting with the Sudanese president that the recent attacks by the rebel groups seek to undermine the implementation of peace in the region.

He further said that Bashir pledged to provide the money his authority needs to enforce the peace deal. The president also promised to protect civilians who return to their villages in Darfur, Sissi added.

The governor of North Darfur, Osman Kibir, on Sunday said they observed that rebels riding on over 40 vehicle arrived recently in the region from South Sudan to carry out attacks in the region.

(ST)