Sudanese army dispatch more troops to Blue Nile state
March 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have dispatched more troops to the Blue Nile following recent clashes in the eastern Sudan state with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) near the strategic town of Kurmuk on the border with Ethiopia.
SAF launched recently an attack on the SPLM-N’s positions in Mafo, located at about 20 kilometres southwest of Kurmuk but the rebels repulsed the attack and followed the Sudanese troops to the outskirts of the border town.
The Blue Nile state welcomed the infantry battalion (931) which arrived from Marawi, northern Sudan, in the context of strengthening the state security, reported the semi-official Sudanese Media Centre on Friday.
The news service, which is close to the intelligence service, further said that two additional battalions are expected to arrive in the coming days.
It added that the Blue Nile state has launched a campaign to recruit new troops with the participation of the state leadership of the executive, legislative and political organs.
Informed sources told Sudan Tribune that most of the Sudanese army soldiers killed in the attack on Mafo were from the Blue Nile.
The SPLM-N said they killed about 86 soldiers during the clashes.
The African Union mediation convenes a meeting on 15 March for political negotiations to end the conflict in the two areas.
The SPLM-N announced that its secretary general Yasir Arman will lead its negotiating team, but Khartoum is yet to make any announcement on who would attend.
(ST)