JEM states that government planted mines in North Darfur

The Justice and Equality Movement said that the Sudanese army planted mines in the El Tina area of North Darfur. The rebel group called on the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to act immediately to remove the mines planted in the area, saying they are extremely dangerous to the civilians and cattle. Abu Bakr Hamid, the secretary of the movement, told Radio Dabanga that the rebels learnt of the bombs from a captured Sudanese army officer, who said the army planted a field of Chinese-made mines in area of El Tina.

The mines, according to the imprisoned officer, were planted in a wide area starting from the south-west part of the defense point of El Tina to a distance of 500 meters. Abu Bakr, citing the officer, said the mines were planted by the force of Sergeant Salam Elaza and that between every mine is a distance of 20 meters. 

The JEM official pointed out that this is the first time for the Sudanese army to plant mines in Darfur since the beginning of the war.