SPLM-N rebels repulse fresh government attack in Blue Nile: spokesperson
June 14, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said its fighters repulsed a fourth government attack against the strategic area of Jebel Kolgo in the Blue Nile state.
SPLM-N official spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, said they repelled a government attack on Jebel Kolgo on Saturday, noting the battle continued from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm (local time).
Lodi pointed their forces killed 18 government soldiers and destroyed 6 Land Cruiser vehicles besides seizing 10 Kalashnikov rifles and loads of ammunition, saying that two of their fighters were wounded in the battle.
Meanwhile, he pointed to the details of the battle which took place at Wad Abouk area in the locality of Al-Tadamon, west of Ed-Damazin.
On Saturday, the SPLM-N accused the government army of bombing the town of Wad Abouk leading to several deaths and injuries among civilians, demanding a swift international investigation on the incident.
The rebel movement pointed that its forces took control of the town for a while before it withdrew from it.
Lodi pointed that 57 government soldiers were killed while their forces suffered 4 casualties, saying they seized 4 Land Cruiser vehicles, 67 Kalashnikov rifles, one 82mm mortar, 11 RPG-7 rounds, 7 PKM mortar machine and a long-range communication device.
He also said they destroyed two Land Cruiser vehicles carrying long-range communications devices.
Blue Nile and neighbouring South Kordofan state have 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.
(ST)