Sudanese defence minister affirms full control of Armed Forces on all axes

The National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Samiya Ahmed Mohamed, Wednesday heard a report presented before it by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, on the security situation in the country and referred it to the concerned committee for further deliberations. In his address, the Minister of Defence said that the signing of the joint cooperation agreement with South Sudan State resulted in departure of the so-called People's Movement - North Sector and the armed movements of Darfur. The Minister of Defence pointed to some aggressions staged by the Justice and Equality Movement in North Darfur, which is now lacking logistic support, on towns, villages and roads, adding this movement is now suffering from splits and internal splits and became depending on acts of robbery, looting and terrifying citizens from time to time. He said that the Armed Forces recently inflicted heavy losses in lives and ammunitions on the rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement which is led by Jibril Ibrahim. The statement has called for support to the Police Forces to as to carry out their tasks fully, especially with regard to securing towns and convoys toward enabling the Armed Forces carrying out the duty of cleaning the region from rebellion. In his address at the National Assembly, the Minister of Defence said that the security situation in Kadugli sector is fully stable thanks to efforts being exerted by the Armed Forces which is lunching convoys for securing towns, the oil pipeline and roads. He pointed to success of the experiment of local defence in South Kordofan State which contributed to realizing security and stability at the towns and localities in the state, stressing the importance of reactivating the role of the People's Defence Forces for boosting security and stability. The statement underscored the important role of the Armed Forces in the securing the oil fields, a matter that resulted in increase of the oil productivity at the old and new oil fields, securing movement of the trains for Darfur State and the tracks of herdsmen, preventing tribal disputes, contributing to the reconciliation conferences and providing security at the development projects. He said that the Armed Forces was able to impose control on areas that were earlier held by the rebellion. Meanwhile, the National Assembly deputies have appreciated the role being exerted by the Armed Forces in keeping security and stability, calling for enhancement of the conditions of the Armed Forces' men.