Sudan deploys troops to borders with Libya
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May 31, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government sent reinforcements
to the borders with Libya amid reports of fighting between Darfur
rebels and armed Libyan opposition, an official said today.
JPEG - 35.5 kb
A Libyan rebel fighter arrives to take position at Misrata’s western
front line, some 25 kilometres from the city centre May 26, 2011
(Reuters)
Hafez Omar Alfa spokesman for the state government of North Darfur
which borders Libya, said in a statement that the measures undertaken
are designed to prevent leakage of weapons and entry of the Darfur
rebels that reportedly clashed with Libyan opposition.
The official said that the security arrangements are preventive and
defensive in nature as part of the security plan in place since the
outbreak of the crisis of Libya.
"We took all precautions early in order to avoid any effects or
possible negative repercussions on the security, social or economic
aspects as a result of Libyan battles and reports of clashes between
Darfuri movements and Libyans rebels," Alfa said.
Gaddafi is fighting an armed rebellion that initially started as a
popular uprising in mid-February. The Libyan opposition managed to
control most of the Eastern side of the country. The United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) in March authorized a no-fly zone over Libya
and using all necessary means to protect civilians.
Now in its fourth month, Libya’s conflict is deadlocked on the ground,
with anti-Gaddafi rebels unable to break out of their strongholds and
advance towards Tripoli, where Gaddafi appears to be firmly
entrenched.
Rebels control the east of Libya around the city of Benghazi, Libya’s
third-biggest city Misrata, and a mountain range stretching from the
town of Zintan, 150 km (95 miles) south of Tripoli, towards the border
with Tunisia.
Sudan closed its shared borders with Libya in early July 2010 after
Libya provided sanctuary to Khalil Ibrahim, the leader of the Darfur
rebel group justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
The borders were re-opened in February this year as Sudan attempted to
evacuate thousands of its citizens fleeing the war in Libya.
Last week, a Libyan rebel commander said that opposition fighters
fought off a Sudanese mercenary force 18 miles (30 kilometers) west of
the southeast oasis of Kufra.
He said they also found documents indicating the fighters were from Darfur JEM.
The pro-government Al-Intibaha newspaper said last week that Darfur
rebels from the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid
Al-Nur also clashed with Libyan opposition near Kufra.
Witnesses in Libya have reported African mercenary fighters shooting
at protesters or being captured by anti-Gadhafi forces. Some were
flown in to put down the rebellion, but most fighters were already in
the country.
In a related issue Kamal Huzayfa, a leading figure in the Libyan
Transitional National Council (TNC), concluded his visit to Sudan
where he vowed intensification of military campaign against Gaddafi’s
rule.
Huzayfa disclosed that the TNC will send some of its members for
training inside Sudan but did not elaborate on the nature of the
training. He expressed the council’s gratitude to the people of Sudan
and its government for their support.
(ST)
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