Darfur’s Jebel Marra rebels claim control of Katrom

In Darfur's Jebel Marra, the rebel SLM-AW claim to have killed dozens of soldiers and allied militiamen at Katrom area in western Jebel Marra on Sunday. A military vehicle exploded on its way to Fanga. Three staff were killed.

Shihabuldin Ahmed Haggar, the military spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid reported the incident to Radio Dabanga, claiming their forces managed to seize control of the area.

He reported that 72 soldiers and militiamen were killed and others were wounded. The rebels seized weapons and ammunition. The SLM-AW lost five rebels, and five sustained injuries.

“The government forces fled towards Nierteti and Kiniga.”

Fighting between the government forces and SLM-AW seems to have flared up. From the beginning until mid-April, the rebels clashed with military forces and allied militias in Sarrong and Wadi Tori, both in western Jebel Marra. The government forces then took control of the rebels’ base in Sarrong.

The military offensive against the armed rebels in inner Jebel Marra was launched on 15 January this year. Aerial bombardments in civilian areas and attacks by militiamen forced residents to abandon their villages.

On Monday morning, an Ural vehicle of the Sudanese military exploded near El Aradeeb El Ashara in western Jebel Marra, killing three military staff, including the driver, and injuring others.

A witness told Radio Dabanga that the vehicle was part of a military convoy of 15 vehicles that travelled from El Fasher to Fanga.