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January 16, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement –Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Friday admitted that its operations’ general commander had been killed by the Sudanese army in North Darfur states.

FILE - Rebels of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), loyal to leader Minni Minawi, ride at the back of a pick-up truck in El-Fasher, the administrative capital of north Darfur on September 19, 2008 (AFP)

“The SLM-MM informs the Sudanese people and the supporters of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front of the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohamed Harry Shardgo, commander of the Sudan Liberation Army operations and his comrades on 13 January,” said SLM-MM spokesperson Abdallah Mursdal on Friday.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Mursal added that Shardgo was killed in an ambush while he was inspecting his troops “in various theaters of operations” without indicating the area where he died.

Pro-government websites said Shardgo was killed in Orshy area in North Darfur state. Also, it was reported that 30 SLM-MM fighters lost their lives in this operation.

The rebel spokesperson further said Shardgo, was “one of the pillars of the group since its early inception”, and did not leave the battlefield where he remained closes to his soldiers and comrades.

Since the failure of negotiations between the government and Darfur rebels in Addis Ababa last month, the Sudanese army and government militias launched a large-scale offensive on the rebel positions in Darfur and the Two Areas.

Earlier this month the army announced the recapture of Finga in eastern Jebal Marra and described it as a strategic headquarters of the rebel groups. Also last Monday the government said its troops retook Abu-Liha and Abu-Gamra areas from Minnawi fighters.

(ST)