The Sudan Liberation Movement-Revolutionary Forces (SLM-RF), which has signed a peace deal with the Khartoum government, has demanded removal of East Darfur Governor Anas Al Nur.

This comes after at least six members of the group were killed during clashes with members of the Ma’alia tribes at Tor Taan area of Yassin Locality last week. They accused the East Darfur government of plotting to kill their commander Kharif and his group by using elements from the Agariba Ma’alia.

Kamaruddin Mohammed Yagub, spokesman for the SLM-RF, told Radio Tamazuj that the Tor Taan incident was orchestrated by the governor. He denied claims that it was just a clash with cattle thieves.

Yagub called on the Sudanese government to set up an independent committee of inquiry to investigate the Tor Taan incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. He threatened that they will revenge for their members who were killed in case the government fails to form the investigation committee.

For his part, East Darfur governor said Sunday in an interview with the state-owned TV that what happened in Tor Taan is an isolated incident.

He claimed that the clash was caused by panic along the way of stolen cattle, saying the security situation was stable in the state. The state official vowed to apprehend those whom he called “criminals”.