Sudanese army declares end of rebellion in entire Darfur

Sudanese army on Tuesday officially declared the end of rebellion in all Darfur region after fully controlling the last stronghold of rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).

"We declare the end of the rebellion and the mercenary movements in all five states of Darfur," Ahmed Khalifa Al-Shami, Sudanese army spokesman, said in a statement today.

The Sudanese army and the other military bodies would continue confronting the outlaws and protecting the citizens and their properties, the statement said.

Last Friday, the Sudanese army controlled the last stronghold of the rebel SLM/Abdul-Wahid Mohamed Nur faction in Jebel Marra area.

Jebel Marra area has been witnessing heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and the rebels of SLM/Abdul-Wahid Mohamed Nir faction since the mid-January 2015.

The area is one of the strongholds of the SLM/Abdul-Wahid Mohamed Nur faction, located in Central Darfur state and covers an area of 12.800 square km.

It is the second highest mountain peak in Sudan as it stands more than 3,000 meters above sea level.

The Sudanese army's announcement coincides with Darfur administrative status referendum, which kicked off Monday, to decide whether to keep the region's current system of five states, or to render Darfur into a single region.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, signed by the government and the Liberation and Justice Movement in 2011, stipulates conducting a referendum in Darfur, and that its outcome will be included in the country's permanent constitution.

According to the agreement, if Darfur citizens vote for one state, the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) will form a constitutional committee to determine the authority of Darfur's regional governments.

However, if Darfur citizens vote for the current five states, the current status of the five states will remain as they are, and the TDRA will be dissolved. Endit