North Darfur state receives 700 of previously defected soldiers

December 29, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Local authorities in the state of North Darfur announced on Monday the return of more than 700 soldiers who defected last October under the leadership led by First Lieutenant Musab al-Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud from the border guards.

Social networking sites have since Sunday circulated news a meeting between North Darfur governor Osman Kibir with Mahmoud in which they agreed to put their differences behind as well as promote the group’s leader.

The renegade group were discharged from the service after their movement to Mallit area during an attack by rebels in the beginning of this year. They have allegedly refused to return four vehicles given to them by the army following the rebels’ retreat from the area.

Following efforts by the North Darfur state and community leaders they returned to the ranks of the regular forces.

The governor of North Darfur praised the cooperation demonstrated by the group, saying it provided a model can be emulated to solve a lot of problems.

For his part, the group’s leader said according to Ashorooq TV that the country can no longer endure any conflict, stressing that they put the Sudan and Darfur in the foreground as soldiers to defend its security and sovereignty.

Mahmoud issued a statement last October in which he said that a government force surrounded them in Ziyadi neighborhood in El-Fasher using about 70 cars and 3 tanks, and attacked them during their withdrawal force at the eastern gate of El-Fasher resulting in a clash between the two sides which saw the use of heavy and medium weapons.

(ST)