‘Villagers killed by shelling in Darfur’s Jebel Marra’: Rebels

Southern Jebel Marra witnessed clashes between government and rebel forces, the Sudan Liberation Movement reported yesterday. Reportedly two civilians have been killed by military shelling.

The armed movement of Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) said in a statement that a man and a woman were killed and three others were wounded in heavy military shelling near Wadi Tremel village, in south Jebel Marra on Sunday.

Military spokesman Walid Mohamed Abakar said that the government’s army forces stationed at Kara shelled Wadi Tremel. Abakar pointed to the reason that “Tremel is under control of the movement”.

Mohamed Abdelkarim Hamid and Halima Haroun Adam were killed. Aisha Adam Mohamed, Kawthar Khalil Ibrahim and Khadija Mohammed Arbab sustained injuries.

The spokesman did not state whether there were casualties on the sides of the rebels or government on Sunday. There have been no statements about the reported fighting by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The SLM-AW recently announced an unilateral three-month ceasefire in a certain part of Jebel Marra, to allow for aid assistance. According to UN humanitarian coordinators, “the Government of Sudan and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid are facilitating access to the affected area”.

Last week the SLM-AW claimed that a number of people have been detained by militiamen in Sortony camp in Kabkabiya in North Darfur. This was the second incident this month involving the militiamen and displaced people.