JEM attacked Sudanese army not UN mission in South Kordofan – rebels

August 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) dismissed accusations by the Sudanese government that they targeted a convoy of United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in South Kordofan.

The Sudanese foreign ministry on Wednesday blamed the international community for its leniency with the rebel groups which accuses of targeting on UN missions in South Kordofan and Darfur. It further called for strong action against them saying they impede peace in Sudan.

Khartoum accused JEM fighters of attacking UNISFA’s fuel tankers escorted by the Sudanese army outside Dilling in South Kordofan. The statement also reaffirmed that the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) had earlier this month killed seven peacekeepers in South Darfur.

JEM official spokesperson, Jibreel Adam Bilal, strongly denied the allegations of the foreign ministry, stressing that they assaulted a Sudanese government force and UNISFA had no any troops among the convoy ambushed on Dilling- Dibeibat road last Saturday.

“All those killed or captured in the attack were members of the government army and militias, also all the weapons and vehicles we seized belong to the regime”, he said.

UNISFA which is mainly composed of Ethiopian troops and led by a general from the neighbouring country has no spokesperson and used to not issue any statement since its establishment in June 2011.

Bilal, in return, accused the Sudanese government of using vehicles and helicopters painted white with the logos of UNISFA in south Kordofan and UNAMID in Darfur to transport weapons, ammunition or supplies to its troops.

“This camouflage aims to mislead the fighters of Sudanese Revolutionary Front”, he said adding “this is a very dangerous situation and we urge the UN Security Council to control the use of UN logos in the conflict areas”.

JEM which is established in Darfur since 2003 adopted a national programme proposing to reform regional and national administrations with the redistribution of national wealth in favour of the marginalized regions.

The group recently moved important number of its troops to South Kordofan where the SPLM-N fights the Sudanese army since June 2011.

The two movements together with two main SLM factions say they want to topple the regime militarily, but also demand a comprehensive peace process leading to regime change in Sudan.

(ST)