November 17, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) said they hit Friday the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fasher, but military sources played down the attack.
- In this file photo. Sudan Liberation Movement leader Minni Minnawi poses for a pictures with some fighters
SLM-MM said recently they shelled Al-Fasher twice but the Sudanese army and UNAMID, which has its headquarters in the town, did not confirm the reports.
The group which is a member of an alliance of rebel movements, Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), carried out its alleged first attack last month just after a similar attack on Kadugli by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement –North (SPLM-N).
SLM-MM military spokesperson Adam Saleh Abakr said they hit Al-Fasher on Friday evening, adding that the shells landed near Al-Fasher airport, a camp of the Armored Corps and Shalla prison.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, he further urged civilians to avoid military and security areas in the town because they intend to continue their attacks.
A military source however, minimized the attack saying that two shells were launched from an area called Shagra, about 30 kilometers west of Al-Fasher. He further told Ashorooq TV that two rockets landed outside the capital without causing any casualties.
The director of Al-Fasher airport, also denied that the airport had been hit by any projectile pointing out that the air traffic is normal.
Sudanese army did not issue any official statement over the attack.
The SRF forces say they are resolved to topple down Al-Bashir’s regime by all means. They expressed their intention to capture big towns before surrounding the capital and attack government forces.
Since May of this year, Darfur witnessed a surge of violence particularly in North and South Darfur states. Beside the increase of rebel attacks, pro-government militias attacked several villages and aid groups noted new waves of displacement.
Minnawi signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in May 2006 but the parties disagreed on the implementation of the security arrangements.
(ST)
Latest Comments & Analysis
A new approach to peace 2018-04-23 06:16:35 By Miroslav Laják When the United Nations was created, its founders envisioned a different kind of world. A world in which disputes were resolved in meeting rooms and not battlefields. A world (...)
Bring Sudanese troops home now 2018-04-21 15:25:57 By Salah Shuaib The Sudanese troops fighting hard now in Yemen, who were sent there by order of al-Bashir, should return home. The process of implementing this task is much challenging. But, we (...)
Dissolution and formation of the Cabinet - 2013 2018-04-20 08:00:00 Amb Telar Deng The events that led to the 2013 dissolution of cabinet can be traced back to the deep mistrust that fermented back in 1991 when leaders failed to close ranks. After the 1991 (...)
MORE