SPLM-N claims repelling fresh government attack in Blue Nile

November 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels on Friday said their forces repulsed a fresh government attack against their bases in the Blue Nile claiming seizure of a government garrison.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, SPLM-N official spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, said the government is preparing to launch a full-scale attack against its forces in conjunction with the ongoing talks in Addis Ababa and as part of the summer military campaign, describing the attack as clear violation for the unilateral ceasefire declared by the government last September.

Last September, the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir declared a two-month cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur. Later he expressed readiness to declare a permanent ceasefire given that rebels show desire for achieving peace.

Also, the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) declared a six-month cessation of hostilities and expressed readiness to negotiate the details of this truce with the government.

On Thursday, talks between the Sudanese government and the armed movements on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur region and South Kordofan and Blue Nile have convened in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the African Union.

Lodi stressed that government forces coming from Soda garrison in the Blue Nile have attacked SPLM-N positions, saying their fighters repelled the attack and seized the garrison without giving further details of the clashes.

He accused the government of sending significant military reinforcements to all battle fronts in South Kordofan in conjunction with sending its delegation to the Addis Ababa talks.

SPLM-N spokesperson called on the African mediation, international community and human rights activists to intensify their campaigns and send a clear message to the Sudanese government to stop targeting civilians and sign humanitarian cessation of hostilities in prelude to arrive at an integrated and equal political process to end the war, achieve a comprehensive peace and establish a democratic system of governance.

“SPLM-N will continue to stick to the unilateral cessation of hostilities declared by the SRF and would defend itself whenever the government forces begins its summer campaigns,” he added.

He said there are two government army convoys heading towards Dalami area and another one east of South Kordofan capital, Kadougli heading towards the SPLM-N stronghold of Kauda, noting their forces “will repulse the insidious government attack and expose the government lies about the cessation of hostilities”.

Lodi further warned that the government summer campaign would increase the civilians’ sufferings particularly as it coincides with the the continued government aerial bombardment of the local population during the harvest season.

It is noteworthy that the Sudanese army and its allied militia have launched the summer military campaign more than two years ago in an attempt to crush rebellion in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

(ST)