Joint rebel offensive: ‘87 SAF’ killed in S. Darfur battle

A joint offensive of two rebel groups against the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) left 87 government troops dead in the area of Umm Gunja in Bilel locality, near Nyala in South Darfur, a rebel spokesman announced. Among the dead is the battle’s commander named Haider and the deputy of the military intelligence unit called Mohamed, Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) military spokesman Adam Saleh was quoted as saying to Radio Dabanga.The SLM-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), also claim to have captured nine officers during the battle that took place on Wednesday afternoon.In addition, the rebels seized 11 Land Cruisers belonging to the SAF that were “loaded with several different kinds of weapons”.The rebels chased the remaining government troops who fled towards Nyala, Saleh said.Radio Dabanga could not contact the SAF for comments.Eyewitnesses confirm Eyewitnesses in Umm Laota and Umm Gunja, located near the alleged frontline, confirmed the occurrence of battles during the day on Wednesday to Radio Dabanga.They claimed that a SAF vehicle was burned and that two others were seized by the rebels, who “defeated the government forces”.Sources believe that an army officer was captured and stressed that citizens fled their homes towards Nyala and surrounding displaced camps, such as Kalma, when speaking to Radio Dabanga on Thursday night.  Radio Dabanga file photo