Sudanese soldiers injured in clash with Rizeigat ‘Savannah’ militants

Three members of the Sudanese government forces were reportedly injured in a clash with the Rizeigat Savannah militia in East Darfur on Monday, however the state Governor denies the clash took place.

On Monday witnesses told Radio Dabanga that the government forces raided a house at Um Gonga village of Assalaya locality in East Darfur in an attempt to arrest suspect Savanna elements for interrogation on charges of involvement in incidents at Tor Taan in Yassin locality last month.

As previously reported by Radio Dabanga, 13 people were killed, others wounded, and two vehicles were destroyed in clashes that broke out between gunmen from the Rizeigat and Ma’aliya tribes in the Tor Taan area of Yassin locality in East Darfur on Sunday April 17.

Witnesses said that Savanna militants, led by Rezqallah, refused to surrender to appear before the investigation and exchanged fire with the government force which led to wounding three of the government troops.

The Governor of East Darfur acknowledged the occurrence of the incident but denied that a clash occurred. He confirmed that member of the militia group refused to be subjected to investigation, but ‘native administration leaders intervened to resolve the problem without any casualties’.

Sources said that the Riezeigat leadership intervened and urged the arrest of the accused, who were wanted by the authorities of East Darfur on charges of involvement in an armed attack on the Governor Anas Omer’s house in Ed Daein in April, which resulting in the killing of two guards and the torching of the governor's house and three vehicles.