Sudan denied hosting rebels from the Central African Republic in its war-ravaged Darfur region, the official newspaper of Sudan’s military reported on Wednesday.
The Central African Republic has accused neighbouring Sudan of allowing rebels to establish bases in Darfur, from which they launch attacks on the republic. A CAR government spokesperson said on Monday that armed fighters based in Darfur had crossed the border a day earlier and attacked the northern town of Birao in fighting that killed both civilians and army troops.
The attack was confirmed by a rebel spokesperson in Birao, who said the town was under the fighters’ control.
The al-Guwat al-Musalaha newspaper, published by the Sudanese military, said CAR rebels wouldn’t be able to operate out of Darfur without the knowledge and consent of the Sudanese military.
”The [Sudanese] army would not accept involvement in the work of militias,” the newspaper read. ”This is an army, not guerillas.”
Unidentified armed groups have launched sporadic attacks on military installations in remote regions of the Central African Republic over the past year, displacing tens of thousands of residents.
CAR has suffered from decades of army revolts, coups and rebellions since the nation gained independence from France in 1960.
Sudanese army officials could not immediately reached for comment. – Sapa-AP