UN reports fighting between government troops and rebels in Jebel Marra.

The United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in Sudan, says it is still receiving reports of continued fighting between government troops and rebels around the mountainous Jebel Marra area straddling Central, South and North Darfur States.

UNAMID said in a statement  on January 19, 2016 that, "The fighting allegedly resulted in an undetermined number of casualties on both sides," adding that it had also received reports that houses had been destroyed in the clashes. The mission reportedly said it has also received reports that government aircraft had dropped bombs north of a UNAMID base in the Jebel Marra town of Nertiti last Saturday, January 16 and Sunday 17  leading to undetermined casualties. "UNAMID personnel in Nertiti also reported five bombs being dropped on an area northeast of their location. The impact of the bombs was felt at the team site," the statement disclosed. Jebel Marra is seen as a stronghold for insurgents battling President Omar al-Bashir  since 2003.

"Thousands of people live in this remote part of Darfur, and the protection of men, women and children is a top priority amid the chaos of fighting which could lead to widespread displacement of entire communities," Ivo Freijsen, the Sudan head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA is quoted as saying. He is further quoted as saying that, "The impact on civilians of the ongoing hostilities that are being reported in the Jebel Marra between government and rebel forces can only be of paramount concern to the humanitarian community here."

The Sudanese military did not immediately comment on the latest clashes. Reports say Jebel Marra has been quiet in recent months, but last year it was the scene of fierce fighting between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW). The SLA-AW is one of the groups that rebelled against Bashir's Arab-dominated government nearly 13 years ago, complaining that the western region was being marginalised.