Sudan denies JEM’s control of Dilling road in South Kordofan
July 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government has disputed statements by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) that they took control of Dalang (Dilling) – Kadugli road on Saturday, accusing rebels of targeting a UN fuel convoy.
JEM “statements about the control of Dalang –Kadugli road are incorrect and the traffic between the two towns is normal”, Mahmoud said.
The minister said the rebel group which originates from Darfur are seeking to loot everything “due to the interruption of their supply”.
He also reassured the lawmakers that the security situation in South Kordofan state is stable.
JEM spokesperson Gibreel Adam Bilal announced on Saturday that they had ambushed a military convoy outside the second most important town in South Kordofan, where they confiscated four tankers full of fuel and seven vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition.
JEM fighters have intensified their attacks in recent months against the Sudanese army in South Kordofan. Some of their operations are carried out under the banner of the rebel alliance Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), with a number of other attacks carried out in the name of the group.
Last April, SRF forces took control of Abu Kershola – which lies on the border between South and North Kordofan states – for one month before it was recaptured by the Sudanese army.
On Sunday, Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir paid a visit to the house of the family of Makki Koko Badi, a member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) killed in South Kordofan.
During his visit with Badi’s family, Bashir vowed that peace and security would soon prevail in South Kordofan.
“Our promise to the martyrs [is] to take care of their families. The blood of the martyrs cleanses the Sudanese territory and achieves security and stability [in the country]”, he said.
(ST)