EL-FASHER, Sudan
A field commander from the
Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) was killed, and two other group
members sustained injuries in an apparent ambush west of El Fasher, the capital
of North Darfur state.Babikir Musa
The attack is believed to have
been executed by a faction associated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Minni Arko Minawi, the Darfur
region’s governor and the leader of the SLM-MM, directly accused RSF militants
of orchestrating the assassination.
“In deep sorrow, today, I bid
farewell to the brave Comrade Babikir Musa, who sacrificed his life while
defending the residents of Shaqra village, west of El Fasher, against threats
from RSF members. The comrade made every effort to repel the assailants and
protect civilians but paid the ultimate price. May the hero rest in peace,”
Minawi expressed in a message on the X platform.
Following Al-Burhan’s arrival
at the end of last August, Minawi relocated to Port Sudan in eastern Sudan.
Tensions have been rising in
El Fasher and its neighbouring villages due to the presence of RSF and allied
militias, who are reportedly preparing to target the 6th Infantry Division of
the Sudanese army in North Darfur State’s capital.
Many civilians have fled El
Fasher, which had already been home to thousands of displaced people who sought
refuge after the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces
erupted nearly seven months ago.
The town also harbours internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the fighting that erupted between the army and former rebel groups in 2003.
According to a source within
the SLM/MM, “An armed group wearing RSF uniforms ambushed an SLM-MM patrol in
Shaqra, located 10 kilometres west of El Fasher. The attackers killed Major
Babakir Musa, and two of his comrades were injured.”
The source added that the
attackers fled to an unknown location, while a substantial SLM-MM force
stationed in the Zamzam displacement camp was in pursuit of the assailants.
Concerns are mounting that
this incident may trigger violent clashes between Darfur’s armed groups and RSF
elements.
Since the outbreak of the
conflict, the armed groups who signed the Juba Peace Agreement have declared
their neutrality and refrained from taking sides.
The SLM-MM, the Justice and
Equality Movement led by Gibril Ibrahim, the Gathering of Sudan Liberation
Forces headed by Al-Tahir Hajer, and the SLM-Transitional Council under Al-Hadi
Idris have established a joint force to protect civilians. This force also
provides security for commercial and relief convoys heading to Darfur cities.
Recently, the joint force
vehemently rejected the military escalation in El Fasher and issued a warning
to confront any armed group that targets civilians and loots markets.
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