Sudan says rebels have no more alternative than peace
May 2, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government called on the rebel groups to join the ongoing efforts to end the armed conflicts in the country, saying they have not more option after the defeat suffered recently.
On Thursday, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim admitted the defeat but reiterated their determination to topple the regime of president Omer al-Bashir.
“The recent victories of the army and the Rapid Support Forces in South Darfur, ended the last page in the elimination of the insurgency (in Darfur), said presidential aide, Ibrahim Ghandour, on Saturday.
“The armed movements have no other choice after those defeats, but to dialogue and (negotiate) peace,” he further said in a speech delivered in the capital of North Kordofan El-Obeid.
Last December the African Union High Level-Implementation Panel (AUHIP) organised peace talks between the government and rebel groups in Darfur but the mediation had to suspend the process after the failure of the parties to reach a declaration of principles.
Khartoum said the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) is the only valid framework for negotiations but JEM and Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi called to open some chapters of the document.
CLASHES WITH JEM POCKETS
The Sudanese army said Saturday they clashed with JEM fighters who fled the battlefield in al-Nikhara area, South Darfur and defeated them in North Darfur area of Jebel Si area, east of Jebel Marra.
The commander of Sudan Armed Forces Division 22 , Adil Amran told Ashorooq TV that they clashed twice with the rebel force on Saturday in the early morning when it moved from Sharq Jebel Marra area and then again at 11.00am o’clock in Jebel Si.
The Sudanese general said they crushed the rebel force and captured five vehicles and a supply truck. He added that three soldiers were killed during the clashes but he didn’t reveal the number of dead on JEM side.
He further said that the army successfully hunted the rebels thanks to the intelligence received from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).
(ST)