C Darfur governor: stability after rebels left the state

In a meeting with the Sudanese president, the governor of Central Darfur affirmed the rebels fighting in Golo in West Jebel Marra have left, leading to “a reasonable stability” in the state. A rebel group and government forces have been fighting in the area since last December. The UN says that at least 30.000 were displaced from their villages as a result. No inter-agency mission has been permitted access to West Jebel Marra since August 2011, it also said.  Governor Yousef Tibin met with President Omar Al Bashir at the presidential palace in Khartoum on Wednesday. He acknowledged Central Darfur is still experiencing some “challenges”, without specifying what they are. On the same day, Radio Dabanga received reports that a pro-government militia hijacked and looted a commercial vehicle “loaded with goods” in Central Darfur. The car, on its way to Zalingei, was assaulted between the areas of Arga and Nama in Nertiti locality before the militias moved it west towards Seeley, sources said. They noted this incident happened just days after unidentified gunmen killed a 29 year-old policeman called Abdul Latif Abdullah Mohamed inside Nertiti city. In addition, a 12 year-old girl was raped by pro-government militias in the neighborhood of Kembo Gabat, about one and a half kilometers from Nertiti. Witnesses said these incidents confirm the “deteriorating security situation in the locality”.Photo by Albert González Farran/ UNAMIDRelated: Rebels: fresh clashes in C. Darfur leave ‘39 SAF killed’ (12 February 2013)