Government claims to expel SLM-MM from Um Dafouk

The government said it expelled the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi from Um Dafouk, El Dembaloya, Geraidiya, Sesaban and Joaquim on Tuesday and Wednesday in South Darfur. Deputy governor of South Darfur Karim Musa told Radio Dabanga that the army expelled the SLM-MM and is now fighting them in the surrounding areas. He said the movement entered destroyed those villages and terrorised civilians to break the stability in the region.’Part of same plan as Heglig’ Tijani Sissi the head of the Darfur Regional Authority said the attack by the Sudan Revolutionary Front in Um Dafouk was in coordination with the attack in Heglig. Sissi said this reflects the extent of coordination to target the whoel country. In a press statement at the Council of Ministers following a meeting with senior NCP official Ali Osman Taha, Sissi said the attack on Um Dafouk is at a time when Khartoum is ‘trying to return displaced people and refugees to Darfur, with the UN trying to help to enforce the Doha peace agreement.’ He said Darfuris think their ‘war is useless and only going to further destabilise the region and lead to more bloodshed.’ He added that ‘the people of Darfur will continue to work with those supporting peace.’