Sudanese Forces Are Training to Face Peacekeeping Troops, Says Government Insider

March 12, 2007

Sudan’s ruling regime is training new troops to face any US or UN forces that might be deployed to Darfur in the coming months, according to a source inside the government. The source, who asked to be identified only as Herbi, is a mid-level government official with knowledge of Sudan’s military operations.  In an interview on March 8, he told Damanga that the government has been training approximately 1,700 new Arab recruits in the Shala area since January.

Herbi added that the new force has been recruited from among ethnic Arab members of the Sudanese army, and from Darfur’s Janjaweed militias.  He said the government does not trust army members who come from the Fur, Massaleit, Dajo, Bargo, or any other black African tribes.

The Shala area is located about six miles west of El Fasher.  According to Damanga’s sources, training for new military assignments typically takes three to four months.