Bombing in Darfur’s western Jebel Marra continues

The Sudanese Air Force bombed western Jebel Marra in Darfur on Monday afternoon, resulting in the wounding of two children. Dozens of homes were burned. A number of villagers were reportedly killed by armed robbers near Guldo.

Fleeing residents told Radio Dabanga that an Antonov dropped barrel bombs on a number of places, on the outskirts of Central Darfur. Ibrahim Ahmed Guma and Abdallah Mousa Saleh sustained injuries.

Additionally, a number of cattle died, and dozens of houses burned as a result of the explosions.

A villager called on the United Nations and humanitarian organisations to intervene and protect the civilians against the aerial bombardments. They have been ongoing since the start of the government’s military offensive against the holdout armed rebels in Jebel Marra in January. More than 100,000 people have been displaced, according to the UN.

From the beginning of April until the 11th, the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid and Sudan’s military forces and allied militias clashed in Sarrong and Wadi Tori, both in western Jebel Marra. The government forces then took control of the rebels’ base in Sarrong.

An activist in the area speaking to Radio Dabanga reported that Jebel Marra has remained “under complete siege since the start of the military operations. No vehicle has entered the area since.”

Robbery

Witnesses reported that bandits shot dead eight villagers of Kao and Toby, east of Guldo in western Jebel Marra, after robbing them of their possessions.

One of the witnesses described the humanitarian situation in the area as very serious. “The road blockade is ongoing, the village streets are closed, and essential consumer goods are not allowed to enter the area which has led to the soaring of prices.”

The witnesses have so far been unable to reach this station to provide more details about the incidents in Kao and Toby.