Five members of the Sudanese security forces were killed in an ambush by an “illegal” armed group in the Darfur region, the Sudanese police said in a statement.
“A security forces unit comprising members of the army, police and support forces was the target of a cowardly attack by an illegal group in central Darfur state,” the statement said without identifying the group.
The attack “left five people dead, including a police inspector,” it said, without specifying how many were injured. No information was given on possible casualties among the attackers.
Sudan has been in turmoil since last October’s coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Durban. Fighting between various ethnic factions has resumed, creating a new cycle of violence, particularly in the most remote areas.
The state of West Darfur, an arid region bordering Chad, has been the scene of deadly violence in recent months.
In April, more than 200 people were killed in clashes between Arab communities and the Massalit minority in the Krink region. According to the UN, more than 125,000 people were displaced during the violence.
A month earlier, fighting between the Fallata, an African ethnic minority, and the Arab Rizeigat community in South Darfur left at least 45 people dead.