‘Sudan army, militias target areas in South Darfur’: displaced

Sudanese army forces and militias in the military area of Tor Ta’aan, South Darfur, have reportedly been targeting the areas in the vicinity with heavy artillery and missiles on Thursday. The areas of Um Gunja and Hijer were allegedly bombed. Speaking to Radio Dabanga on Thursday afternoon, displaced from the Kalma camp in South Darfur reported that they had been hearing sounds of explosions and shelling in the Tor Ta’aan military area since the early morning. They also heard aircrafts regularly departing from the nearby airport of Nyala, moving towards the areas of Um Gunja and Hijer, southeast of Nyala. Displaced who have relatives in these areas, could not get in contact with them, because the mobile network was down. They feared that the areas of Um Gunja and Hijer have been bombed by “Antonovs and MiGs of the Sudanese Air Force”. Some areas southeast of Nyala are controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM). Yesterday Radio Dabanga reported that the SLM-MM in the same area destroyed a reconnaissance squad, composed of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. File photo: A vehicle of SLM-AW rebels in East Jebel Marra (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Unamid) Related: ‘SLM-MM destroys recon squad in South Darfur’: spokesman (26 February 2014)‘Rapid Support Forces in Darfur to fight rebels’: General (26 February 2014)