Khartoum Steps Up Military Operations
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Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir addresses a news conference in Juba, April 12, 2013. (photo by REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu)
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Sudan’s government launched a large-scale military campaign in areas controlled by the Darfur armed movements and rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N ) in the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. This comes amid reports that the authorities are anticipating surprises from the rebels in the northern and central parts of Sudan.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said that his country “strongly and firmly continues its actions until the armed forces — which will get all the support and backup to liberate every inch that is contaminated by the rebels — achieve victory.” He told employees at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs that “all the forces of evil in the world have conspired against Sudan; however, Sudan will emerge from the conspiracy stronger, more resolved and determined than before.” Bashir added that “Sudan is a country of principles. The forces of evil have targeted our fundamental principles and political positions. Yet, we will preserve our principles and positions. We successfully fought and overpowered them, and have endured conditions more difficult than the current ones.”
Spokesman for the Sudanese military Al-Sawarmi Khaled Saad promised [to achieve] “a major victory” over the Sudan Revolutionary Front, and emphasized that “victory will be crushing. We will destroy the rebels who committed crimes and atrocities against unarmed civilians and innocent people.”
He added, “The decisive moment is very near in all locations where the SPLM-N rebels, and other agents and mercenaries, thought that they will stay for long. The Sudanese people will very soon hear good news.” He continued, “The army continues its efforts to rid the country of every rebel, and we are telling them that the moment of truth is near.”
Defense Minister Abdel Rahim Hussein and Director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta visited Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State. The visit came following information stating that the rebels are planning an attack there. Hussein confirmed that the government forces “work in total coordination, and accurately implement their security plans, which have led to a positive security situation in Nyala and other cities.”
Hussein noted that during their visit to South Darfur state, they reviewed the authorities’ arrangements to secure the city of Nyala and its surrounding, “which positively reflected on the situation in the region.” He also mentioned that the army, police and security services are coordinating to control the situation in Nyala. He said, “The situation is stable in the city, the citizens’ activity is normal, and security situation is continuously improving in the state.”
The governor of North Darfur state, Osman Yusuf Kibir, confirmed that the military surrounded the rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Um Katkoot, the mountains of Um Karkoor and the surrounding area in the central part of the state. He said that he discussed the JEM rebels’ activity in the state and their movement toward the state’s southeastern areas with Tijani el-Sissi, head of the Darfur regional authority.
Kibir pointed out that “the rebel forces are currently stationed in the central part of the state.” He stressed “the military’s ability to deal with and defend against the rebels.” He also expected an ethnic conflict to erupt within the JEM, led by Jibreel Ibrahim, after Mohamed Bashar and his deputy Suleiman Arko were recently assassinated. Bashar is the leader of the group that signed a peace agreement in Doha with the Sudanese government.
Ibrahim al-Khodor — governor of the northern state, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border — stressed that his state “is ready and prepared for all possibilities. The rotation of guards is conducted by security authorities at the city’s entrances, and security forces are patrolling the desert.” Following closed security meetings — which were attended by parliament Speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir, who made a tactical visit to the state — Khodor told reporters that “the meeting’s attendees were satisfied with security arrangements, as well as political and military preparations in the state’s provinces, and the camps to train volunteers on weapon handling.”
He denied the presence of rebel rallies along the state’s border with North Kordofan and Darfur. Khodor explained, “It seemed likely that rebels were present in Hour Valley in North Darfur. Yet, the patrols that we sent did not find anything.” He added, “They [the rebels] probably heard that the state forces were coming, so they went back to where they came from.” Khodor noted that there is no evidence that an attack is being planned in the state.
In Khartoum, semi-official reports revealed that security services recently observed “some groups that intended to carry out acts of sabotage in the city center of the capital. They intend to take advantage of [the existing] crisis, and incite people to protest in a way to spark chaos and confusion in the center of Khartoum.”
The reports added that “the Khartoum state security committee developed plans to secure the capital, and activate security services to observe, identify and eliminate any anti-government cells.” They stressed that “the security services — which are thoroughly searching all areas, especially the peripheral areas, via joint security teams from the police and security services — are vigilant. “
On the other hand, the Central Khartoum Court re-detained former NISS director Salah Abdallah Ghosh and four others until next Sunday. This came at the request of the inquiry commission to re-interrogate those suspected of taking part in an attempt to overthrow the regime, which the authorities had announced they thwarted in November 2012.
Nabil Adeeb, the attorney heading Ghosh’s defense team, said that “so far there is no legal evidence to convict him,” and described the case as “a political rather than legal issue, that has not gotten to the trial stage yet, given that the inquiry commission has yet to bring any charges against him.”
He said that “the inquiry commission is trying to find a charge,” and asserted that the defendants “did not commit any acts that violate the law, and there is no evidence against them.” He added that the prosecution “will not be able to bring any legal charges against Ghosh and his group,” and described the measures as “a storm in a teacup.”
Bashir had issued a decree to pardon members of the military and security services regarding the attempted coup. This is after two courts convicted them and issued a ruling to imprison them and expel them from the military.
About This Article
Summary :
In an effort to eradicate rebels throughout the country, the Sudanese government has increased military operations in areas where rebels maintain a significant presence.
Publisher: Al-Hayat (Pan Arab) Original Title: Sudan: Large-Scale Military Campaign Against Rebels Author: Al-Nour Ahmad Al-Nour First Published: May 22, 2013 Posted on: May 22 2013 Translated by: Joelle El-Khoury |
Sudan Spokesman for the Sudanese military Al-Sawarmi Khaled Saad promised [to achieve] “a major victory” over the Sudan Revolutionary Front, and emphasized that “victory will be crushing. We will destroy the rebels who committed crimes and atrocities against unarmed civilians and innocent people.”
He added, “The decisive moment is very near in all locations where the SPLM-N rebels, and other agents and mercenaries, thought that they will stay for long. The Sudanese people will very soon hear good news.” He continued, “The army continues its efforts to rid the country of every rebel, and we are telling them that the moment of truth is near.”
Defense Minister Abdel Rahim Hussein and Director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta visited Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State. The visit came following information stating that the rebels are planning an attack there. Hussein confirmed that the government forces “work in total coordination, and accurately implement their security plans, which have led to a positive security situation in Nyala and other cities.”
Hussein noted that during their visit to South Darfur state, they reviewed the authorities’ arrangements to secure the city of Nyala and its surrounding, “which positively reflected on the situation in the region.” He also mentioned that the army, police and security services are coordinating to control the situation in Nyala. He said, “The situation is stable in the city, the citizens’ activity is normal, and security situation is continuously improving in the state.”
The governor of North Darfur state, Osman Yusuf Kibir, confirmed that the military surrounded the rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Um Katkoot, the mountains of Um Karkoor and the surrounding area in the central part of the state. He said that he discussed the JEM rebels’ activity in the state and their movement toward the state’s southeastern areas with Tijani el-Sissi, head of the Darfur regional authority.
Kibir pointed out that “the rebel forces are currently stationed in the central part of the state.” He stressed “the military’s ability to deal with and defend against the rebels.” He also expected an ethnic conflict to erupt within the JEM, led by Jibreel Ibrahim, after Mohamed Bashar and his deputy Suleiman Arko were recently assassinated. Bashar is the leader of the group that signed a peace agreement in Doha with the Sudanese government.
Ibrahim al-Khodor — governor of the northern state, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border — stressed that his state “is ready and prepared for all possibilities. The rotation of guards is conducted by security authorities at the city’s entrances, and security forces are patrolling the desert.” Following closed security meetings — which were attended by parliament Speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir, who made a tactical visit to the state — Khodor told reporters that “the meeting’s attendees were satisfied with security arrangements, as well as political and military preparations in the state’s provinces, and the camps to train volunteers on weapon handling.”
He denied the presence of rebel rallies along the state’s border with North Kordofan and Darfur. Khodor explained, “It seemed likely that rebels were present in Hour Valley in North Darfur. Yet, the patrols that we sent did not find anything.” He added, “They [the rebels] probably heard that the state forces were coming, so they went back to where they came from.” Khodor noted that there is no evidence that an attack is being planned in the state.
In Khartoum, semi-official reports revealed that security services recently observed “some groups that intended to carry out acts of sabotage in the city center of the capital. They intend to take advantage of [the existing] crisis, and incite people to protest in a way to spark chaos and confusion in the center of Khartoum.”
The reports added that “the Khartoum state security committee developed plans to secure the capital, and activate security services to observe, identify and eliminate any anti-government cells.” They stressed that “the security services — which are thoroughly searching all areas, especially the peripheral areas, via joint security teams from the police and security services — are vigilant. “
On the other hand, the Central Khartoum Court re-detained former NISS director Salah Abdallah Ghosh and four others until next Sunday. This came at the request of the inquiry commission to re-interrogate those suspected of taking part in an attempt to overthrow the regime, which the authorities had announced they thwarted in November 2012.
Nabil Adeeb, the attorney heading Ghosh’s defense team, said that “so far there is no legal evidence to convict him,” and described the case as “a political rather than legal issue, that has not gotten to the trial stage yet, given that the inquiry commission has yet to bring any charges against him.”
He said that “the inquiry commission is trying to find a charge,” and asserted that the defendants “did not commit any acts that violate the law, and there is no evidence against them.” He added that the prosecution “will not be able to bring any legal charges against Ghosh and his group,” and described the measures as “a storm in a teacup.”
Bashir had issued a decree to pardon members of the military and security services regarding the attempted coup. This is after two courts convicted them and issued a ruling to imprison them and expel them from the military.
Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/security/2013/05/sudan-military-campaign-against-rebels.html#ixzz2UC8H0tX4
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