SLA-AW: aerial bombardments in Darfur lead to death of 35 civilians

Battles broke out Sunday between government forces and the forces of armed resistance in the area south of Jebel Marra. Nimer Al Rahman, spokesman of SLA-Abdel Wahid, told Radio Dabanga that the government used its Air Force in the attack. According to Nimer the bombardments were random, and led to the death of 35 civilians. Villagers fled to the mountains for protection. Nimer accused the government of targeting unarmed civilians, and stressed that the battle is still ongoing.UNAMID also reported fighting over the weekend between unknown armed men and the Sudanese Armed Forces in Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur. Close to 1000 civilians sought shelter with UNAMID’s nearby team site. UNAMID yesterday evacuated 15 injured people on two of its helicopters to El Fasher hospital for treatment.

It was reported that twelve people were killed in an attack launched by an armed group on Shangil Tobaya who attacked the area on horse-backs and cars. Thirty others were wounded and transferred to El Fasher to receive treatment. Fifteen houses were burnt in the attack and properties were robbed. Local witnesses accused Minawi’s factions of carrying out the attack.

Minawi’s faction strongly denied carrying out the attack and the faction confirmed that it has no ties to the incident. According to them the attack was carried out by a group of civilians in revenge of the killing of seventeen of their people by another militia group over the last few days.