Sudanese army carries out air attacks in Blue Nile despite ceasefire

September 25, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army carried out fresh bombardments on a number of villages in the Blue Nile state despite a presidential decree , announced the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) on Friday.

“On 24th Aug, 2015 the first day of Eid Aladha, a (Sudan Air Force) Antonov plane dropped eight bombs on several villages in Blue Nile state including Malkan, Ullu and Wadaka villages in Kurmuk County and Kobra village in Baw County,” said Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, SPLM-N official spokesperson.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Lodi further said that the air raids killed a girl child, Gisma Abu-lgasim Bakhit, and wounded four other people, It also destroyed two agriculture farms in Goz-Bager.

The air attack comes two days since the announcement of a two-month ceasefire on 22 September by President Omer al-Bashir who called for the rebel groups to join the national dialogue process.

Earlier this month the rebel groups said ready to sign a six-month cessation of hostilities agreement with the government in order to create a conducive environment for the national dialogue.

However they tied their participate in the internal political process to the government’s acceptance of an African Union roadmap providing to hold a pre-dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa with the participation of the political parties and civil society groups.

Lodi who denounced the aerial bombing said the Sudanese artillery shelled Jabal Kaiog of Baw County but no casualties resulted from the attack.

The Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment on this statement.

(ST)