JEM leader say they have lost South Darfur battle not the war
April 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) admitted they have lost a recent battle against the Sudanese troops in South Darfur but minimised its impact on their determination to defeat the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.
Also, pictures and videos circulated in the social media and forums showing dead bodies, detained rebel fighters, and military vehicles allegedly captured from the rebels by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who ambushed the attacking force near the border with South Sudan.
“The Movement admits that it did not win al-Nikhara battle according to its standards or corresponding to the image that Sudanese people got used to know throughout the years of the revolution,” said JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim in a statement issued on Thursday.
Ibrahim further acknowledged that some of JEM combatants are captured and others were killed besides the seizure of vehicles and weapons.
“But these losses do not exceed a quarter of what claim the head of the regime and his mercenaries who, even if they danced with joy today will weep soon in a decisive battle to come,” he further said..
Reporters were not allowed to visit the remote battle area to have a neutral account of the fighting.
Earlier this week, JEM chief negotiator Ahmed Tugud told Sudan Tribune they clashed with the Sudanese army in West Kordofan area of Ghubaysh near the border with North Darfur, asserting they destroyed its camp there.
Ibrahim stressed that the loss of South Darfur battle does not mean they lost the war or their cause, adding that it will “enhance their determination to move forward in achieving their goals and remove this criminal gang which is parking on the chest of the (Sudanese) people for more than a quarter of a century”.
The rebel leader went further to accuse Khartoum of using this battle to cover the boycott of elections which “clearly indicated the popular rejection of the regime”. He further said the government also meant to amplify the outcome of the clashes to cover up up huge losses in lives and materiel sustained by the Sudanese troops.
JEM is seen as the most powerful group among Darfur rebel movements. Unconfirmed reports say they mobilised more than 400 vehicles for this major attack in South Darfur.
Since more than two years, JEM fighters were redeployed in the SPLM-N controlled areas in South Kordofan state after the establishment of a joint command including the Sudanese Revolutionary Front factions.
PLANS TO ATTACK HEGLIG OIL FACILITIES
The Sudanese army spokesperson, al-Sawarmi Khalid said that JEM rebels had planned initially to attack oil facilities in Heglig near the Unity state but the South Sudanese government prevented them from carrying out this operation
Speaking to Ashorooq TV the military spokesperson further claimed that following Juba’s objection, the rebel group decided to launch a big operation to control a mountainous area in Jebel Marra in order to establish their military base in Darfur.
He reiterated the recent rebel operation would impact relations with the South Sudan because they supported JEM in this attack.
(ST)