Renewed army, militia clashes in Darfur’s East Jebel Marra

Nine soldiers and militiamen were killed, and at least 15 injured in clashes between Sudanese army troops and members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the area of Khazan Tunjur, East Jebel Marra, today.

Military sources reported to Dabanga that the clashes broke out at noon, after army soldiers protested the assaults on civilians and the pillaging of their houses by RSF troops in the area.

“The militiamen refused to listen, saying they had been instructed to do so,” the sources said, “after which fierce fighting broke out that lasted for about one hour.

“Both sides used heavy weapons. Seven militiamen and two soldiers were killed. At least eight RSF fighters and four army troops were injured. Three vehicles belonging to the militia were destroyed.”

It was not the first time that army troops and militiamen clashed, the sources revealed. Ten days ago, fighting erupted in the area of Katur in Tawila locality, popularly known as northern East Jebel Marra, when soldiers opposed an attempt by RSF militiamen to rob fleeing villagers of their belongings and livestock. “Three militiamen and two soldiers were killed.”

“Another clash took place near Tabit in Tawila locality, wherein two militiamen and one army soldier were killed,” one of the sources added.

Robberies

On Saturday, RSF members ambushed a convoy of five Nissan lorries in Mashrou Abu Zeid, East Jebel Marra, and robbed the passengers of their belongings, one of the victims told Dabanga.

Another lorry overturned in the same area when being chased by another group of RSF militiamen, he said. A number of the passengers, on their way to El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, were seriously injured. They were transferred to El Fasher Teaching hospital.