Sudan government army, rebels claim victory after clashes in S. Kordofan
May 16, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) both claimed victory following clashes that took place in the restive South Kordofan state on Thursday.
The Sudanese army said in a statement released on Thursday evening they captured Mirri Bara area, located at the west of the state capital, after a long fighting that lasted for several hours.
SAF spokesperson, Al-Swarmi Khaled, said they inflected heavy losses on the rebel side.
He further said that the rebels used to shell Kadugli from this area.
However, reached by Sudan Tribune, SPLM-N spokesperson, Arnu Lodi, denied that they have troops in Mirri Bara.
“We do not have troops there. All what we have is a reconnaissance team who pulled out of the area and they did not clash with the forces of the National Congress Party,” he stressed.
On the other hand, the rebel spokesperson claimed in a communiqué issued on the same day they defeated the government forces in Kao-Nyaro area in Abu Jubaiha County and Warni area in Talodi County.
The two areas are respectively located in the south eastern and southern parts of the state.
He said the assailant forces fled the battlefield leaving 38bodies of killed soldiers in Kao-Nyaro and 27 bodies in Warni.
The Sudanese army and its militias intensified attacks on the SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan before the resumption of peace talks at the end of this month.
The mediators seek to bring the parties to sign a framework agreement and to stop hostilities before to reach civilians in the rebel held areas.
(ST)