Sudanese army reject SPLM-N humanitarian truce in the Two Areas

August 31, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The spokesperson of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Saturday rejected the unilateral cessation of hostilities announced by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), describing it as “cheap propaganda”.

The SPLM-N announced a one-month unilateral truce in response to the foods that hit the country since one month, and ordered its fighters to help affected civilians in the rebel controlled areas in Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

“This announcement has no value, it is no more than a cheap propaganda because the SPLM-North has no (humanitarian) ingredients to support civilians affected by floods”, said SAF spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khaled in a short statement released via the official news agency, SUNA.

This quick statement means that the Sudanese army rejects the cessation of hostility announced by the rebel group, even if the two parties used to stop military operations during the rainy season.

The SPLM-N however said yesterday that its unilateral announcement “does not include the moving targets and does not prejudice acts of self defence”.

Abdel-Aziz El-Hilu, deputy SPLM-N chairman who commands the rebel fighters on the grounds was in Switzerland on Thursday 29 August where he signed a signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action”.

The conflict between the two parties erupted in June 2011 and was limited only to the South Kordofan state but it extended to the Blue Nile in September of the same year, after the failure of regional efforts to contain the crisis.

(ST)