KHARTOUM, 27 July 2005 — Sudanese government troops and rebels attacked each other in Darfur in fresh violence but one analyst said yesterday the international community is willing to give a new unity government time to solve the problem.
The African Union said rebels killed three government soldiers in an attack on a convoy in Darfur, where United Nations officials have said killing has decreased since January.
“The SLM (Sudan Liberation Movement) attacked a government convoy on Saturday. ... That is confirmed. ... Three (government) military personnel were killed in the attack,” said an AU official who did not want to be named.
A Sudanese official previously said the government responded to the attack on its convoy on Saturday with an assault the next day on nearby rebel camps.
Rebels reported the government used helicopters in an attack along the main road between Al-Fasher and Nyala, hitting villages and killing seven civilians.
The government and rebel reports have not been independently verified. Government bombardment using planes or helicopters was last reported in January.
The violence comes after John Garang, the leader of the former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), entered a new government on July 9 as first vice president.
Sudan’s new government was greeted with broad international support but also amid warnings from the United States and others that improved relations depended upon an end to hostilities in Darfur.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in Sudan last week and told officials she wanted to see “actions not words” to quell violence in Darfur.
David Mozersky, senior Sudan analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the latest attacks would probably not dent support for Sudan’s new coalition unity government. “People are hopeful that with the SPLM entering the new government, a solution to Darfur will be forthcoming,” he said.
Garang has said he will work to end the conflict. The SPLM entered the new government after a peace deal in January.
Meanwhile, three of the 16 political parties in talks with the new Sudanese government said yesterday they were prepared to participate in the new administration, to be formed next month in accordance with the interim constitution.
The Union of Sudan African Parties (USAP), the Democratic Salvation Front (DSF) and Ansar Sunna have all confirmed their participation in the upcoming national unity government and the transitional Parliament, an adviser to Nhial Deng said yesterday.
