Sudan, SPLM-N issue conflicting accounts of S. Kordofan clashes

January 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The spokesman of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Colonel al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad said that they repulsed an attack by Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in three areas recently recaptured by the army in South Kordofan.

Col. Sa’ad said that rebels suffered heavy losses in lives and equipments which ran contrary to SPLM-N claims of inflicting heavy SAF casualties that exceeded 100 deaths.

Last week, the army said that took back al-Qneziah, Dalouka and Blinga areas in the state which borders South Sudan.

The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir declared today that the current year will witness the eradication of insurgency, outlaws and agents from all parts of the country.

SAF announced on Monday that it reclaimed four strategic areas in North Darfur and South Kordofan from the rebels in the second phase of the “decisive summer” campaign against rebels.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

SPLM-N spokesman Arno Ngutulu Lodi said in a statement on Thursday that their forces were able on Wednesday to achieve victories against SAF in al-Qneziah which lies 18 kilometers east of state capital of Kadugli and took control of an army camp, killing 100 SAF soldiers including four officers.

Lodi said that SPLM-N lost one officer and 14 were wounded.

He further claimed that their forces seized control of Blinga camp which lies 8 kilometers southwest of Kadugli killing 24 government troops and seizing various military equipment.

Lodi promised that SPLM-N will wok to abort schemes of the government whom he accused of trying to murder, destroy and persecute civilians in Sudan and particularly conflict areas.

(ST)