Rebels claim control of garrison in South Darfur

Darfur armed rebel movements announced the killing of 18 Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and militia troops on Tuesday in an attack on the Katila garrison in South Darfur. Mohamed Ahmed Yagoub, the spokesperson for the Liberation Movement for Justice, led by Ali Karbino (LMJ-Karbino) told Radio Dabanga from the field that joint forces of LMJ-Karbino and the Sudan Liberation Movement under the command of Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) on Tuesday at about 2.30pm attacked the military garrison of Katila. They killed 18 troops, and wounded and captured others. Nine vehicles loaded with various weapons and large amounts of gear, supplies and military equipments were seized. The rebel forces also destroyed four army vehicles, the headquarters of the security forces and the police station. Yagoub stated that they are in full control over the area of Katila. Sources from Katila locality confirmed the battle. The spokesperson of the Gimir tribe in the area, Abakar El Tom, told Radio Dabanga that the attack took place at 2pm by a rebel force made up of 27 vehicles loaded with various kinds of weapons. He stressed that the SAF, the security forces and the police, together with civilians stood up to the attack. El Tom noted that five army and police troops were killed, among them a police officer working in the police court, called Adamein. Five army vehicles and police cars were destroyed and parts of a number of houses went into flames. The battle lasted half an hour, leading to the defeat of the rebel forces. He stressed that on Tuesday evening Katila was quiet again and the situation had “returned to normal”. No losses occurred to the property of citizens. El Tom wondered what the reasons would be for the “continuous attacks” on Katayla. “The area is targeted again and again.” The governor of South Darfur state, Maj. Gen. Adam Mahmoud Jarelnabbi, confirmed the attack, saying that “the Sudanese army was engaged in confrontations with the aggressors, who concentrate their attacks on government institutions, in order to remove them from the area.”. Appearing on the Sudanese satellite channel, Ashorooq TV, the governor accused the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) of carrying out the attack with about thirty vehicles. He stated that no casualties occurred among the civilians in Katila. File photo

Darfur armed rebel movements announced the killing of 18 Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and militia troops on Tuesday in an attack on the Katila garrison in South Darfur.

Mohamed Ahmed Yagoub, the spokesperson for the Liberation Movement for Justice, led by Ali Karbino (LMJ-Karbino) told Radio Dabanga from the field that joint forces of LMJ-Karbino and the Sudan Liberation Movement under the command of Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) on Tuesday at about 2.30pm attacked the military garrison of Katila. They killed 18 troops, and wounded and captured others. Nine vehicles loaded with various weapons and large amounts of gear, supplies and military equipments were seized. The rebel forces also destroyed four army vehicles, the headquarters of the security forces and the police station.

Yagoub stated that they are in full control over the area of Katila.

Sources from Katila locality confirmed the battle. The spokesperson of the Gimir tribe in the area, Abakar El Tom, told Radio Dabanga that the attack took place at 2pm by a rebel force made up of 27 vehicles loaded with various kinds of weapons. He stressed that the SAF, the security forces and the police, together with civilians stood up to the attack.

El Tom noted that five army and police troops were killed, among them a police officer working in the police court, called Adamein. Five army vehicles and police cars were destroyed and parts of a number of houses went into flames. The battle lasted half an hour, leading to the defeat of the rebel forces.

He stressed that on Tuesday evening Katila was quiet again and the situation had “returned to normal”. No losses occurred to the property of citizens.

El Tom wondered what the reasons would be for the “continuous attacks” on Katayla. “The area is targeted again and again.”

The governor of South Darfur state, Maj. Gen. Adam Mahmoud Jarelnabbi, confirmed the attack, saying that “the Sudanese army was engaged in confrontations with the aggressors, who concentrate their attacks on government institutions, in order to remove them from the area.”. Appearing on the Sudanese satellite channel, Ashorooq TV, the governor accused the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) of carrying out the attack with about thirty vehicles. He stated that no casualties occurred among the civilians in Katila.

File photo