Darfur’s JEM rebels chased out of S. Kordofan: governor
November 15, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The governor of Sudan’s South Kordofan state, Adam al-Faki, said that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has driven the Darfur rebel group, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) out of Karmalia area and pursued it in the direction of Kujoria area.
He pointed that JEM sneaked into several villages such as Kertala which lies between Habeela and al-Delayma to use villagers as human shields, looting private properties, and setting the markets on fire, claiming that the rebels avoided SAF’s camps and positions.
The governor added that SAF drove out JEM troops from Karmalia area which is located at the road that links Deling to Debeibat in South Kordofan following a two-day siege, reiterating that JEM used of citizens as human shields.
He further said that SAF and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) forces are still pursuing JEM troops which headed west towards Kujoria, stressing SAF and NISS determination to maintain security and prevent rebel attacks which target peaceful areas to loot supplies.
Since 2011 the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/ North (SPLM-N) have fought the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and their aligned militia the Popular Defence Forces (PDF) in South Kordofan state.
The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), which includes the SPLM-N and Darfur rebel groups such as JEM, announced on Tuesday that its joint forces managed to kill 60 SAF soldiers including a Colonel in al-delayma at the intersection of Debeibat and al-Deling with al-Fershaya 15th kilo.
It also claimed that dozens of SAF soldiers were held captive and asserted control over the area while seizing eight military vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition as well as anti-aircraft gun.
Furthermore, the rebel coalition said that it destroyed an SAF camp in Kertala area which lies east of Deling.
But officials speaking to pro-government al-Shorooq TV on Friday denied these claims and stressed that al-Deling is safe and did not come under attack.
Yesterday, five soldiers from SAF were killed in a friendly fire incident that took place in South Kordofan.
SAF spokesman Colonel Al-Sawarmi Khaled Sa’ad was quoted by Sudan news agency (SUNA) as saying that the “unintended error” occurred between Deling – Debeibat areas in South Kordofan on Thursday evening.
Col . Sa’ad said that the deaths from both sides took place when a force protecting Debeibat mayor fired on a moving SAF patrol.
The pro-government Ashorooq TV disclosed that the mayor was accompanying a federal government delegation that was headed from Debeibat to Deling to the South Kordofan capital city of Kadugli.
The incident comes at a time when the government announced a major military offensive to put down the rebellion “once and for all” that is led by the SRF in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
(ST)