SPLM-N rebels shoot down WFP helicopter in South Kordofan
January 26, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) brought down a UN helicopter in a rebel-held area located east of the capital of South Kordofan state, Kadugli,
“The helicopter was flying over an intense war zone, and where the Sudan air force is conducting continuous aerial bombardments against the civilian and military targets,” SPLM-N delegation spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said.
He said the six crew members of the helicopter who claim to be working with the WFP are “safe and unhurt”.
“If it turns out that they are WFP staff and no relation with the Sudan government, the SPLM-N is ready for their immediate release,” the statement said.
When contacted by Sudan Tribune, Ardol said all the members of the crew are Bulgarian, adding the incident occurred in an area located east of Kadugli on Monday afternoon (local time).
A WFP source told Sudan Tribune that a helicopter contracted to work for them in South Sudan landed unexpectedly at a remote area in South Kordofan adding that the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority succeeded in determining their location and that efforts are underway to ensure safety of the crew.
Sudanese authorities said that the helicopter was coming from Rumbek, Lakes state’s capital in the neighbouring South Sudan and headed to El Obeid, adding that its final destination was Bulgaria.
South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.
Last December, negotiations between Khartoum the SPLM-N stalled after the government delegation insisted that the objective of talks is to settle the conflict in the Two Areas, while the SPLM-N team has called for a holistic approach to resolve ongoing conflicts across Sudan.
In a separate development, the UK based Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) said Monday that random shelling by the Sudanese army wounded two men in Alatmour town west of Kadugli and two women in Um Sirdiba, South Kordofan.
All of them were transferred to a hospital in the rebel stronghold Kauda which is located 92 km east of Kadugli.
(ST)