Dozens die in North Darfur battles

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claim to have destroyed a camp of the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), in the area of Donki Baashim, Kutum locality in North Darfur, today. The “Darfur joint resistance forces” clashed with a RSF convoy in the area yesterday, killing dozens of militia troops. “The Sudan Armed Forces destroyed a SLM-MM camp in the area of Khor Baashim,” the RSF commander, Major General Abbas Abdel Aziz, announced today (Monday) during a press conference at the Sudanese Media Center in Khartoum. “151 rebels were killed, including ten of SLM-MM’s top leaders.” Among the top leaders killed, Abdel Aziz mentioned Yahya Jebel Moon, Abdel Ghani Ibrahim, and Jamal Dongolawi. The RSF also seized 52 vehicles and large quantities of weapons and ammunition. The RSF commander stated that they are still chasing the rebels who fled, leaving behind the dead and their equipment. “The Forces are continuing to clear the area of ​​insurgents. The battle of Donki Baashim represents the real beginning of the end of the insurgency in North Darfur.” 60 RSF troops killed “More than 60 militia troops were killed and at least 84 were wounded in a clash between the Darfur joint resistance forces and a RSF convoy in the area of Donki Baashim in Kutum locality on Sunday,” Adam Saleh Abakar, the spokesman for the SLM-MM, reported to Radio Dabanga. “We seized nine vehicles loaded with various weapons and destroyed eight other vehicles.”   The wounded militia troops were evacuated by helicopters on Monday morning, the spokesman added. File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid Related: Rebels attack Rapid Support Forces in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra (17 March 2014) Rebels attack militia and army troops in East Jebel Marra and North Darfur (16 March 2014) ‘Rapid Support Forces in Darfur to fight rebels’: General (26 February 2014)