SPLM-N rebels recapture South Kordofan area

November 21, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) said that its fighters regained the control of an area on the border of South and North Kordofan states , 24 hours after its capture by the Sudanese army.

On Wednesday morning the Sudan Armed Forces took the control of Kaling in the far north of Rashad district. The army’s spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khaled said the rebels use the locality as basis to launch attacks on neighbouring areas.

“SPLA/N forces of Sudan Revolutionary Front(SRF) in South Kordofan/ Nuba Mountains state regained control of Kaling village in Rashad County today 21/11/13 morning”, said SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

Arnu further said the Sudanese army entered the area under heavy cover of aerial bombardment and shillings on civilians targets.

He added that rebel fighters from other areas who came “to rescue and protect the civilians” clashed with the (Sudanese troops) and destroyed one mounted vehicle and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.

Arnu stressed that Kaling is inhabited by civilians and not a military base for rebel forces.

According to Arnu, SPLM-N leader Malik Agar, his deputy Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu and the Movement’s secretary general Yasir Arman congratulated the SPLA-A fighters for the “the strong and big victories”.

Sudanese officials say they seek to reach a negotiated settlement of the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The SPLM-N rebels say on the other hand they want a comprehensive process for peace in the whole Sudan.

The African Union mediation team organised a fruitless meeting between the two sides last April, but failed to bring the two parties to the negotiating table again.

(ST)