Rebel student faction holds gatherings in Khartoum

Yesterday the student faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) held two debate events in markets in Khartoum, days after a number of them were arrested at markets in Omdurman.

The students of the United Popular Front gathered at markets in Khartoum and Khartoum North. The debate followed other speeches held by students at El Soug El Shaabi and Libya markets in Omdurman on Saturday. A number of students were detained by members of the security service that evening.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga earlier this week, student Abdelbasit Mohamed said that in total 22 people were detained in the Libya market in Omdurman on Saturday, and handed over to the police. The detained students belong to the United Popular Front.

The court in Omdurman sentenced four of the students for public nuisance on Monday. On Tuesday, 14 people were still kept in custody, awaiting trial.

Meanwhile the SLM led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) announced that the armed rebels managed to confront an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Popular Defense Forces, on sites held by the rebels in Dafra, West Kordofan.

The movement said in a statement on Tuesday night that its forces managed to defeat the pro-government militias, and “caused great casualties in the lives and military equipment of the militias”. They seized three Land Cruisers loaded with heavy weapons.