Sudan’s Bashir orders army to launch decisive attack to end rebellion

October 29, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has said that the Sudanese army (SAF) has won more than 40 battles in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, recently ordering it to launch a decisive summer attack against rebels.

Bashir, who addressed the graduation ceremony of 175 officers at the national military academy in the presence of the Libyan prime minister, Abdullah al-Thani, pointed to “recent victories of the army and regular forces” in the battlefronts in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

He demanded the army to get ready for a decisive summer battle to end rebellion in the country, vowing to provide every possible support to build the army capacity.

“Use this new summer to achieve a big victory, allowing us to move freely and reach the far areas in Sudan without fears except from Allah and wolf for our sheep,” Bashir said.

He further vowed to enhance the military capabilities of the armed forces and to improve the situation of its members.

On 6 October, the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) accused Bashir and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of seeking to shuffle off national dialogue and abort efforts of the African Union to bring about peace in the country and prepare for war.

Within the framework of its efforts to facilitate a national dialogue process aiming to reach a comprehensive in Sudan, the African Union will organise separate talks between the government and rebel groups on a cessation of hostilities and security arrangement next month.

The Sudanese president underscored that the experience of the joint border troops with neighbouring countries has achieved significant security, economic and political objectives, disclosing ongoing efforts to promote and maintain these troops in order to accomplish common interests.

“We established joint border troops with several countries to prevent security chaos, terrorist activities, crime and smuggling and this experience has achieved significant security, economic and political gains for all parties,” he said.

Sudan has formed joint forces tasked with the monitoring of common border with all the neighbouring countries except South Sudan. The two countries failed to operationalise this force due to their failre to demarcate the border.

(ST)