Khartoum warns Darfur armed groups against exploiting end of military operations

Sudanese government on Friday warned the armed groups against exploiting the government's declaration of end of military operation in Darfur to carry out military acts to achieve gains, official SUNA news agency reported.

"Last April the Sudanese government declared end of the military operations in Darfur, where the Sudanese Armed Forces, including the Rapid Support Forces and the People's Defense Forces, to stop offensive operations," the agency quoted Abdul-Ghani Al-Naeem, Sudan Foreign Ministry Under-secretary, as saying.

"Any attempt to exploit this situation via entry of any armed groups in Darfur, or use of this situation to achieve any gains will be regarded as hostile acts and the armed forces will have the right to respond with the appropriate force," he noted.

Last April, shortly before the conduction of the Darfur administrative status referendum, the Sudanese government declared the end of military operations in Darfur region.

The announcement came after the Sudanese army controlled the last stronghold of the rebels at the strategic area of Jebel Marra following battles that lasted for about two months.

The major rebel groups in Darfur refused to sign the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, which was reached in 2011. Endit