SLM-AW claims win in Jebel Marra battle

Rebels in Darfur claim to have killed more than 100 soldiers during a battle in western Jebel Marra on Friday night.

The military spokesman for the SLM led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) put the death toll at 170 soldiers of the Sudanese army, including the commander of the region, Major Adel Mohamad Khair El Dhaou Mohamad. Shihabuldin Ahmed Hagar told Radio Dabanga that the battle erupted at Torentowra area.

“It lasted for four hours. We managed to fully control the area, along with seizing 18 guns, various weapons and ammunition.”

Hagar said that four of the rebel force were killed in the battle and that three others were wounded.

The movement claimed to have killed government soldiers in a battle near Nierteti on 15 July.

Air raid

Two children were killed and a woman was wounded when they were hit by an air raid on Kora, Tina, Turdi, and Gorling Bang, 25 kilometres north of Kass in South Darfur on Monday.

Witnesses from the southern outskirts of Jebel Marra told Radio Dabanga that the Sudanese Air Force bombed all four villages in the morning. 8-year-old Haroun Kamarudin Yahya and 12 year-old Ayoub Hussein Saleh did not survive the attack. Hawa Yahya Abakar sustained injuries.

A witness reported that four houses in Turdi were destroyed, as well as the Grand Mosque. “There are still wounded victims in the villages. The bombing has caused people to flee their homes.”

Ceasefire

On 30 June, the Sudanese president declared a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur, after he had announced a four-month unilateral cessation of hostilities in Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The SLM-AW has refrained from joining the unilateral ceasefire announced by other Sudanese rebel movements.