Darfur rebels claim 27 army, militia troops killed

The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) claims to have killed 27 army and militia forces in Jebel Marra on Wednesday.

The rebel fighters also captured two government troops, among them a lieutenant in a battle near Kutrum, east of Nierteti, Shamseldin Ahmed Haggar, the military spokesman for the Movement informed Radio Dabanga.

He said that the rebel forces attacked and defeated a government convoy en route from Kaninga to Kutrum.

“27 army troops and janjaweed were killed. We captured First Lt. Juma Awkinek, and the Chadian Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim, an agent of the Chadian Jihad Security.

“We also seized seven machineguns, six RPG launchers, and a number of small arms.”

Counter-attack

On Monday, the SLM-AW reportedly killed 49 government troops and wounded 19 others in the area of Kutrum in the western part of Jebel Marra.

Haggar explained to Radio Dabanga that the rebel forces recaptured ground that had been occupied by government forces “over the past few days”. Three SLM-AW troops were killed and four were wounded in the action.

On 8 February, the Sudanese army claimed to have regained control of the area from the SLM-AW.

According to the UN in an update on Wednesday, the number of civilians displaced as a result of the recent fighting in Jebel Marra reached 73,000.