Sudan’s defence minister visits troops in North Darfur

June 30, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese defence minister Abdel Rahim Hussein paid a visit on Monday to government troops deployed in Alquba area north of Kutum in North Darfur state where rebel leader Ali Karbino was killed last Friday.

Flanked by the state governor Osman Kibir, Hussein eulogised the Sudanese soldiers and militia forces, saying their victory “is a gift to the President Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir from the Sudan Armed Forces on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan”.

He praised the command of the 22 Brigade deployed in Kutum town, troops of Battalion 186 of Alquba and the Central Reserve Police, as well as paramilitary troops of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF).

He further commended the leaders of the tribal “Native Administration for their active participation in this great work”.

The report that emerged after the killing of the rebel leader ay Arab pastoralists from the area and elements of the Border Guards militia affiliated to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) attacked the SLMJ fighters on Friday following the alleged looting of camels belonging to the herders.

It was also reported that 10 nomads were killed and several others wounded.

The leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction, Minni Minnawi, said two of his commanders were killed during the fighting.

The minister said he approved the allocation of all the vehicles captured from the rebels to the Battalion 186 and improve the training of its members.

Before to leave to Khartoum, the minister visited the wounded soldiers in El-Fasher Hospital.

(ST)