JEM planned to attack Nyala, El-Fasher & Khartoum, military commander says
May 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is part of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), Mohamed Hamdan Hametti announced that the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was planning to attack Nyala, El-Fasher and Khartoum.
He claimed that Israeli experts trained JEM troops for more than 18 months in South Sudan.
RSF commander said his forces were monitoring their movements as they crossed the borders of the state of West Kordofan till they were ambushed.
Last weekend, the Sudanese government said its forces routed JEM fighters who carried out a major offensive on South Darfur state for the first time since several years.
Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir travelled to the battle area of al-Nikhara to celebrate their victory.
Also, pictures and videos circulated in the social media and forums showed dead bodies, detained rebel fighters, and military vehicles allegedly captured from the rebels by RSF who ambushed the attacking force near the borders with South Sudan.
JEM issued a rare statement this week acknowledging its defeat.
The spoils of the battle consisting of 163 armed vehicles and weapons was rallied in Nyala with the presence of citizens, South Darfur governor Adam Jar al-Nabi and military leaders.
Hametti pointed to the high capabilities of RSF troops which he said allowed them to obliterate and defeat the enemy.
He announced the beginning of what he described as cleansing Darfur states from outlaws and gangs and imposing security and stability, stressing RSF neutrality and that they will not be affected by any tribal affiliations.
For his part, South Darfur Governor said the the unprecedented RSF victory made JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim looking for justifications for the defeat of his forces in the battle which signifies the end of the insurgency
He said that RSF will help resolve tribal conflicts and outlaws.
(ST)