Darfur governor: Rebels planning attack

North Darfur governor Osman Mohamed Youssef Kibir stated Saturday that rebel groups are preparing to carry out attacks in the region after a decrease of violence in western Sudan. Darfur peacekeeping mission and foreign observers agreed that Darfur region witnessed a period of relative calm after the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in July 2011. Rebel groups who established an alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) moved to South Kordofan where they carried out several operations against the army. But Sudan accused the newly impendent South Sudan of harbouring the rebel groups and supporting them. Sudan also recently accused Juba army of occupying different areas in South and East Darfur states. Osman Mohamed Youssef Kibir governor of North Darfur said the security organs observed on Friday evening over 40 rebel vehicles moving between Dar Essalam and Klemindo located on the southern part of the state. Kibir added that this convoy had been previously seen at Abu Humrah and Um Draissay heading towards eastern part of Djebel Marrah. The mountainous area is located in the middle of Darfur. He said the rebels brought their weapons and vehicles from South Sudan, pointing out that their arrival to these areas is a new development that would lead to ignite violence there. Last Tuesday, Sudan Liberation Movement rebels said they took briefly the control of Girayda in South Darfur state. On Wednesday the Sudanese army said recaptured the area but the rebels said they pulled out. The United Nation Security Council endorsed earlier this month an African union resolution demanding Sudan, South Sudan, and SPLM-N rebels to resume talks within three months. However Khartoum refuses to hold talks with the SPLM-N as the later calls for comprehensive process including Darfur rebels. On the other hand the AU and the UN work on an initiative aiming to organise separate talks between Darfur rebels and Khartoum on the basis on the DDPD. But Darfur movements reject this idea and appeal for a new and inclusive peace operation.