Sudanese army retakes strategic positions in S. Kordofan: official

March 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army Monday recaptured key positions in the areas held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan state, a militarily official said on Sunday.

SPLM-N spokesperson, Arno Lodi Sunday said that the government troops and allied militias launched last Sunday a simultaneous attack on six of its positions in Um Dorain, Buram, Heiban, and Dalami countries.

The Sudanese rebels further accused the Sudanese army of using South Sudanese Shilluk militia belonging to the SPLM-In-Opposition but the latter denied the accusation.

“Since the beginning of this week, the Armed Forces liberated and cleared a number of areas and strategic positions in South Kordofan including, Al-Maradis, El Lipo, Kutna, Ugab, Karkakaia, El-Biri,” said Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami on Sunday.

Al-Shami said they army inflicted heavy losses on the rebels. He further admitted that some soldiers were killed and others wounded without providing figures

The military official said they decided to move on the rebel position as they refused all the initiatives aiming to end war and negotiate a peace deal.

He was referring to the SPLM-N rejection of the Roadmap Agreement which is signd by the government and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP).

According to the framework agreement, the government accepts to negotiate a peace agreement and their participation in the national dialogue without requiring the disarmament of the SPLM-N fighters.

But the opposition groups said the deal will bring them to acknowledge the National Dialogue Conference held in Khartoum since last October.

(ST)