Sudan to Assault Darfur Rebel Town, Asks UNAMID to Leave

February 1, 2009 (NYALA) — Sudan today ordered UNAMID peacekeepers out of a town in South Darfur as mechanized forces advanced on the town from three directions, rebels and activists said.

Fighters from the JEM ride in the back of a vehicle through the bush (file Photo Reuters) Sudan’s forces intend to take the town, Muhageriya, from the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which seized the area on January 15 from a group allied to the government, led by Minni Minawi. The town and the immediate vicinity have an estimated population of 30,000 to 40,000.

Muhageriya had been since 2005 under the control of Minni Minawi’s troops but the Sudanese army is keen to take it from JEM due to the strategic position of the town, which is at the juncture of the road to the oil installation in Southern Kordofan and the capitals of three Darfur states.

"The Sudanese army is moving tanks to Muhageriya; this move indicates that they are intending to bomb the town. This intention is confirmed by the demand of UNAMID pullout," said a rebel spokesman, JEM Legislative Council Speaker Tahir Al-Faki.

UNAMID, the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission, bases some 190 personnel in Muhageriya. The peacekeepers said that thousands of civilians gathered around their base after warplanes attacked the town last week and government soldiers and allied Janjaweed militia made a failed attack Thursday.

PEACEKEEPERS WITHDRAWING

Sudan today demanded that UNAMID forces withdraw from Muhageriya, according to multiple sources.

Reports indicate that the peacekeepers intend to comply, but spokeswoman Josephine Guerrero told AFP, "This decision is not final because there are still discussions underway." On the contrary, a rebel statement noted, "Khartoum’s contemptuous ultimatum to UNAMID seems to be final and not subject to negotiation. Government forces are already advancing towards Muhajaria from three fronts, giving little time to UNAMID to react."

The anti-genocide organization Aegis Trust, citing anonymous sources in Muhageria, reported that the UN-African Union troops "have agreed to leave and are now attempting to proceed with their evacuation, although they are hampered by a shortage of vehicles and by Government bombing in the area. A major Government attack on the town is expected soon.”

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