Sudanese army confirms death of Darfur rebel commander
January 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Sunday claimed responsibility for the death of a commander in Sudan Liberation Army of Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM) by the name of Mohamed Hari near Orshi water tank in North Darfur state during an attack on rebel forces who were fleeing two areas recently recaptured.
A website close to the government militia of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were the first to announce the death of Hari along with 30 SLA-MM soldiers.
SAF spokesman Colonel al-Sawarmi Khaled Sa’ad said that rebels were attacked as they were retreating from Abulga and Abu-Qamra regions in North Darfur overran by the army recently.
He told state media that rebels sought cover at Orshi water tank but they were attacked and SAF managed to seize seven armed vehicles along with weapons, ammunition and substantial amount of fuel.
Col. Sa’ad said that SAF will continue to secure and comb the area in the context of the Decisive Summer campaign waged against rebels.
Heavy fighting broke out between SAF and rebels east of Jebel Marra earlier this month, and the army was able to flush out rebels from several areas. The clashes led to the displacement of about 37,000 according to humanitarian organisations working in the field.
Government forces managed to expel rebels from Fanga area in eastern Jebel Marra that houses SLA-MM and SLA of Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur (SLM-AW) since the start of the Darfur conflict in 2003.
Following the failure of talks with two Darfur rebel groups in Addis Ababa last year on a cessation of hostility agreement, the Sudanese army announced the resumption of military operations against the rebels and intensified air raids on their positions.
(ST)