UN Warns of Looming Battle Between Rebels in Sudan’s Darfur

By Heba Aly

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations-led peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s western Darfur region yesterday said former rebels may attack a southern town, where 30,000 civilians are at risk.

This comes after a battle on Jan. 15 for control of the town of Muhajariya in South Darfur between a faction of the Sudan Liberation Army led by Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement, which is also fighting the Sudanese government.

A “catastrophic humanitarian situation” may develop if the fighting continues, Unamid said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. “Recent reports indicate that the SLA is regrouping for a counterattack to regain control of Muhajariya, which was their stronghold for a long time.”

Up to 300,000 people have died in the conflict in Darfur and close to 3 million others were forced to leave their homes after rebels took up arms against the government in 2003, complaining of marginalization, according to the UN.

Kenro Oshidari, acting UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, said he is “deeply concerned” about the humanitarian situation in Muhajariya, where the town’s occupants are exposed to “levels of violence previously not seen.”

Civilians rushed to the peacekeeping base for protection during the fighting, Unamid said Jan. 16. At least 45 people died, 100 families were displaced and 150 houses burned, the Khartoum-based Sudanese Media Center said.

Mini Minawi was the only major rebel leader to sign a peace agreement with the government in 2006. Since then, rebel groups have fragmented into multiple factions, which, according to Victor Tanner and Jerome Tubiana of the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, is impeding peace in Darfur.

Source: Bloomberg.
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=ad6QFpMU.7Do&refer=africa.