Darfur rebels attack army as Sudan’s military ops start

An armed rebel movement announced the killing of 32 soldiers and allied militiamen today in Rokoro area in Central Darfur. Sudan’s head of security has voiced threatening words that the military will chase down rebel forces, even if they are harboured by neighbouring countries. The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) further claimed to have seized six Land Cruisers and an amount of various weapons and ammunition on Friday. Five other vehicles were destroyed. The military spokesman for the rebels, Mustafa Tambour, reported to Radio Dabanga that the SLM-AW attacked the Sudanese army and militias west of Rokoro, after they fled from Guldo in Nierteti locality. The rebel movement claimed the attack on a military convoy there on Tuesday. 23 army and militia forces and eight rebel combatants were reportedly killed in the fighting. Security head warns South Sudan Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein announced that the dry season operation has started and that the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces will fight armed rebels in all of Sudan. The Minister of Defence said this during his address to the infantry of the 16th Division, including Rapid Support Forces (RSF), today, in their military camp west of Nyala city, capital of South Darfur. Mohamed Atta, director of the National Intelligence and Security Service, warned the neighbouring countries of the consequences of harbouring Sudanese rebels. “Especially South Sudan,” he emphasised. He threatened that the Sudanese army and the RSF will “chase down the rebel movements everywhere”. File photo: Darfuri rebels (Olivier Chassot / Unamid)Related: ‘Sudan to crush rebellion in next dry season campaign’: Defence, security (11 December 2014) Shelling kills three civilians, rebels claim victory in Darfur’s Jebel Marra (31 October 2014)