Darfur Fighting Continues Despite Bashir’s Ceasefire

The Sudanese army and rebel groups clashed in North Darfur on Thursday, undermining a unilateral ceasefire declared recently by President Omar al-Bashir. Reports indicate that the clashes began when fighters from the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) attacked a government military base at El-Hilif, prompting the army to launch random bombings using Antonovs and helicopters. The SLA claims the soldiers killed five of its fighters while a fire emanating from the army bombings razed an entire village to the ground.[PE]