Clearing rebels from potentially lucrative oilsites

Sudan is moving to clear rebels from potentially lucrative oilsites. Ansan Wikfs, a partner of Sudan-owned Sudapet, said last July they would begin seismic operations at Block 12A located in a remote area of northern Darfur. Sudapet, Ansan and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qahtani Group are the joint-operators of Block 12A. It is understood that Chinese companies, which dominate the oil fields in Sudan's centre and south, now want to drill exploration wells in North Darfur but have been barred from starting work by the presence of the rebels. Chinese oil engineers have moved to the area, to join Saudi teams already licensed to search for new deposits. China is Sudan's largest crude customer, buying 60% of its oil. here

Attackers ambush UNAMID convoy

The attackers ambushed the UNAMID convoy at Um Hakibah in North Darfur State, southwest of the peacekeeping mission's headquarters in El Fasher, said the UNAMID official speaking on condition of anonymity. "One is confirmed dead and six are missing. The location of the incident is Um Hakibah, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Shangil Tobayi," the official said. here

JEM rebels shoot down MiG in May

On May 10, 2008, the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) fighters mounted an assault on the Sudanese capital. During this action, a Sudanese Air Force MiG-29 was shot down by Darfur Justice and Equality Movement rebel forces with 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm heavy machine guns fire while it was attacking a convoy of vehicles in Khartoum suburb of Omdurman. The aircraft was piloted by a Russian mercenary. He was killed in action as his parachute did not open after ejecting. Regular Sudanese forces managed to repulse the attack and Sudan accused Chad of backing JEM in its attempt. [10] [11]

Marabout in Kouno Chad

Security forces in Chad killed 12 followers of a Muslim spiritual leader who was threatening to launch a holy war from a southern village in defence of the Islamic faith. Two members of the security forces were also killed and seven other people were wounded when government forces clashed on Sunday with hundreds of supporters of the "marabout" or holy man at Kouno, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of N'Djamena Reuters

la musique Chadienne

Within minutes, we heard explosions and heavy gunfire and black smoke rose above Goz Beida, a sandy town ringed by hills and camps housing tens of thousands of refugees.
In the morning, a kitchen worker was asked if the shooting had scared her. She just laughed.
“C’est la musique Chadienne” — It’s Chadian music, the local soundtrack by which people too often live their lives. here

The mobile rebel columns of armed pickups have raced through towns and struck at army posts in the eastern borderlands. But they have not attempted to repeat the headlong charge westwards to the capital N'Djamena that they made in February.
Former colonial ruler France, which in February clearly threw its political and military weight behind Deby when he resisted the rebel assault on N'Djamena, has taken a more ambiguous position towards the latest rebel moves. here

Columns of armed pick-up trucks

The rebels, whose columns of armed pick-up trucks have pushed westwards from the border with Sudan into eastern Chad here