JEM deny attacking citizens in South Darfur

The Justice and Equality Movement has denied accusations by the deputy governor of South Darfur that it attacked citizens in the El Sesaban area of Katila near the border with South Sudan on Tuesday. JEM spokesman Jibril Adam Bilal told Radio Dabanga that there are JEM sleeper cells in the area but that they only destroyed the communications tower and confiscated weapons and vehicles from the popular defence forces. He said they did this as the government was trying to create internal divisions in the area by forcing citizens to mobilise to go and fight against South Sudan in Heglig. Bilal denied that JEM attacked or looted any residents. He said the accusations by the deputy governor were unfounded and asked why JEM would turn on and attack their own families and relatives.