SPLM-N rebels repulse fresh government attack in Blue Nile: spokesperson
December 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said its fighters repulsed a government attack on Towred area, 50 kilometers east of Bau town, Blue Nile state.
He pointed that the SPLM-N fighters destroyed and dispersed the attacking force killing four government soldiers and arresting two others.
Lodi said their fighters arrested a government army sergeant by the name of Ga’afar Abdallah Magloub and a corporal by the name of Guma’a Awarta Kadu, adding they seized 3 RPG-7 anti-armor, 2 BKM machine guns and a large amount of ammunition without losses from their side.
TALKS ON THE TWO AREAS
Meanwhile, the government negotiating team for the Two Areas talks with the SPLM-N said the two sides reached major understandings during the recent round informal meetings expecting to sign a comprehensive agreement before the end of the year.
On Friday, the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N wrapped up a three-day informal meeting in Addis Ababa and agreed to resume discussions soon.
Last November the two warring parties in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan failed to reach cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements, as the five-day talks showed that important gaps persist in the positions of the two sides.
In a bid to bridges the gaps, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) organized a three-day round of informal talks between the two sides from 16 to 18 December where the two sides debated on how to overcome their differences.
Member of the government negotiating team Bishara Guma’a Aru told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) said the two sides briefed the African mediation on the outcome of the informal discussion, noting the SPLM-N is keen to reach a final deal to end the sufferings of the people in the Two Areas.
He attributed the success of the informal talks to the regional and international changes as well as the ongoing national dialogue conference, stressing the two sides agreed to engage the holdout opposition in the dialogue.
Aru further expected that a new round of talks would be held before the end of this year.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Friday the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiating team Mubarak Ardol said the two sides were not able to reach an agreement on the main outstanding issues.
“However they laid out their positions on those issues openly and seriously and agreed to hold a second informal meeting at the earliest time for further deep discussions and allow each side to consult with its allies in order to achieve comprehensive peace,” he said
The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011.
(ST)