SPLM-N rebels says they have seized control of strategic garrison in S. Kordofan

June 12, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said its fighters on Monday took control of a strategic army garrison in the troubled South Kordofan state.

SPLM-N spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, said forces from SPLM’s first front seized control of the strategic garrison of Maflou’ which lies north of the town of Talodi.

He stressed the government army has withdrawn from the garrison leaving two soldiers dead, saying the seized one Doshka MG, 15 Kalashnikov rifles and an RPG-7.

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.

Reports from the South Kordofan say the Sudanese army intensified during the past days attacks on the rebel stronghold town of Kauda, in preparation of ground operations.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state has been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and the Sudanese army since 2011.

The Sudanese government and rebel group failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement after a series of talks brokered by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) in December 2014.

Since, the fighting between the warring parties resumed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Last December, the Sudanese army acknowledged that SPLM-N had shelled the outskirts of Kadugli using Katyusha rockets.

The two sides also clashed in Balinga area, 10 km from Kadugli besides other clashes in Daldako, Al-Atmoor, and Al-Roseiris.

(ST)