[Arab News] Darfur rebels clashed with government troops in South Darfur on Wednesday marking the resumption of fighting after heavy rains had largely subdued hostilities in Sudan's war-torn west.Darfur jumped onto international agendas after a 2003 counter-insurgency campaign sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises as more than 2 million people decamped a campaign of murder, rape and looting dubbed genocide by Washington.
Round after round of peace talks have failed to secure a lasting truce because of rebel divisions and continued military operations. Sudan has gradually reasserted control over much of the region and led a rapprochement with neighboring Chad, isolating pockets of rebel forces largely cut off from support.
"The rebels attacked a commercial convoy...and the Central Reserve Police protecting the convoy engaged them, suffering several losses," Sudan's Ministry of Interior said in a statement.
It added the police were still chasing the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces.
Senior JEM commander Suleiman Sandal told Rooters from Darfur the government had attacked them in the east of South Darfur and they had routed the attackers.
"We have only a few injured," he said.