Darfur rebels claim victory in southwest Jebel Marra

The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) has stated that its rebel fighters killed 13 army soldiers and militiamen in the area of Rari in the south-western part of Jebel Marra on Saturday. In Tawila locality, four army troops were reportedly killed when their armoured vehicle exploded.

SLM-AW military spokesman Shamseldin Ahmed Haggar told Radio Dabanga that a convoy of 17 Land Cruisers with army troops and paramilitaries, and about 150 militiamen on camels and horses were moving towards Kutrum in southwest Jebel Marra

“Our combatants ambushed the forces in the area of Rari, 1.5 kilometres east of Kutrum,” he said. “In the ensuing battle, 13 government troops were killed. The others fled in the direction of Nierteti.”

Haggar added that the rebels destroyed two of the Land Cruisers, and seized “a quantity of arms and ammunition”.

Blast

In Tawila locality, popularly known as East Jebel Marra, Lt. El Najeeb Bahareldin Saleh and three army soldiers were killed in the area of El Tina, 15 kilometres east of Fanga on Saturday.

A well-informed source reported to Radio Dabanga that they were part of a military convoy of about 350 vehicles, en route from the North Darfur capital El Fasher to Jebel Marra.

“Their armoured vehicle suddenly exploded in the area of El Tina. It may have hit a land mine or an unexploded bomb,” he suggested.

Jebel Marra area map (OCHA)