Two children, soldiers die as army-Darfur rebels clash, Jebel Marra

A rebel movement claimed the killing of 18 Sudanese troops during an attack on a military base in East Jebel Marra today. A local resident reported that the clash resulted in the deaths of two children. The Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice, led by Taher Hajar (LJM-TH) attacked the military base of Khazan Tunjur today (Sunday), spokesman Mohamed Ahmed Yagoub told Radio Dabanga. “The rebels destroyed the base and seized control of the entire area.” He added that they captured two Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) troops. Yagoub said that their attack came as a response to the violations against civilians by the Khartoum government, the mass rape of women in North Darfur’s Tabit village, and the aerial bombardments on both Um Baru and Karnoi localities. ‘Residents fled the area’A resident of East Jebel Marra confirmed to Radio Dabanga that a clash between rebel forces and the SAF took place in Khazan Tunjur on Sunday afternoon. He reported that the fighting also led to the death of two children, the brothers Yahya and Hamid Ishag Saleh (respectively 8 and 12 years old). The listener, who is close to the family of the two children, told Radio Dabanga that “the intensity of this clash forced the farmers of surrounding lands and residents to flee Khazan Tunjur area”.The LJM-TH was formerly led by Ali Karbino. He was killed on 27 June 2014 in clashes with government forces in Kutum locality, North Darfur.File photo: Darfuri rebels (Jan-Joseph Stok) Related: ‘Heavy air raids’ in North Darfur (18 November 2014) Soldiers rape two women in East Jebel Marra, Darfur (29 October 2014)