KHARTOUM: Sudanese forces clashed with rebels on Wednesday in a key area of the troubled western region of Darfur, rebels and peacekeepers said.
The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) said it attacked the government-held town of Golo in the Jabel Marra area of western Sudan in retaliation for army bombardment of their areas, a move likely to hinder peace talks set to open this month.
Tensions were already high in oil-producing Sudan which is gearing up for presidential, parliamentary and state governor elections in April.
“The government started this with bombing in Jabel Moun and in Jabel Marra,” said SLA commander Ibrahim El-Helwu. “We attacked Golo this morning — we have casualties and the government has many casualties,” he added.
The joint UN-African union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) does not have troops in the area but said aid workers caught in the crossfire had sought refuge in their compound.
“For the time being they (aid workers) are safe,” said Balla Keita, UNAMID commander for West Darfur.
A government intelligence source said fighting was still going on, but Sudan’s army was not immediately available to comment.
Darfur peace talks, which have faltered for the past three years, are due to reopen this month in Qatar, but the fighting is likely to fuel mistrust between the rebels and Khartoum.
In 2003 mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against the government, accusing it of neglecting the region. Khartoum mobilized mainly Arab militias to crush the uprising.
The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have died as a result of the conflict and that 2 million have been driven from their homes according to the United Nations. Sudan puts the death toll at 10,000.
