Sudan army battles ex-peace partner Minawi faction in Darfur

Heavy fighting erupted Friday and Saturday in South Darfur in the areas of Khor Abeche and Hujair, south of the railway, between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement faction of Minni Minawi. The fighting marks an apparent return to war between the government and the only major rebel group to have agreed to peace.Minni Arkuo Minawi, head of the movement, explained to Radio Dabanga that government forces attacked Khor Abeche and carried out burning, pillaging and killing. He added that government forces raped a woman and ransacked the property of citizens and their livestock in Shearia area, which he said was a headquarters for government militia.

Khor Abeche is located 80 kilometres north-east of Nyala.

Battles were still underway late Friday in Hujair, south of the railway. Fighting continued Saturday as government forces attacked Khor Abeche village at 11:00, the second time within 24 hours. “The attack resulted in five confirmed injured civilians and several burning houses,” said the UN-African Union peacekeepers yesterday evening in an e-mailed statement. “The Mission’s team site dispatched fire trucks to put out the fires, provided medical care to the casualties, and is patrolling the village.”

The civilian casualties are currently at an UN medical clinic in Khor Abeche. As many as three of the wounded are listed in critical condition and will be evacuated to better medical facilities, the UN peacekeepers reported last night.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Minawi said Friday that this attack and the military escalation by the government forces against movement represent the government’s declaration of withdrawal from the Abuja Agreement and the disbandment of the deal. “The movement is now fully prepared to defend ourselves and the citizens,” said the SLM commander.

Although the Sudanese army has not confirmed the latest attacks, Army Spokesman Al Sawarmi Khaled said last Thursday that the army had attacked the ex-rebel group. He accused them of joining the rebel forces. He also said it was clear that the Minawi forces were heading south to the autonomous South Sudan, which is controlled by the ex-rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. He said the clash left many Minawi soldiers wounded. When asked about this, however, Minawi denied that there were clashes in Darfur on Wednesday. He said that there was aerial bombardment five days prior in Tulus areas and Buram, which resulted in civilian casualties.

Minawi had been a nominal government ally since signing the Darfur Peace Agreement in Abuja, Nigeria in May 2006. He became senior assistant to the President of the Republic, a position he held until this year. He also headed the Transitional Regional Authority, a governance body for Darfur staffed by ex-rebels. The national security forces last week raided the Transitional Authority offices and arrested Minawi cadres in different cities including Nyala, El Fasher and Khartoum. Minawi himself is now in Juba.