SPLM-N counter-arracks government forces in S. Kordofan

April 9, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N) indicated Saturday the continuation of fighting in South Kordofan state, saying they attacked four positions of the government troops during the past two days.

The government army and militias since three weeks have launched simultaneous attack on the SPLM-N positions in the two states. However, the rebel group said they resisted and repulsed the assailant forces.

In a statement to Sudan Tribune on Saturday evening, SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngulutu Lodi said they carried out an attack Saturday on the government troops deployed in Kohliat garrison, 2 km west of the state capital Kadugli.

He added they killed 11 Sudanese army soldiers and seized a number of weapons, while they lost one of their fighters.

On Friday 8 April, Lodi said they launched a similar attack on a garrison of the Sudanese army in Murony south of Kalogi town where they killed 17 and lost two of their combatants.

He added that on the same day, they killed eight soldiers and destroyed a T-85 of the Sudanese army in a mortar attack on the government troops in Alazrag areas east of Heiban town.

The rebel official further said they carried out an attack on a mobile convoy of the government forces at the former headquarters of the Joint Integrated Unit west of Um Serdiba on Thursday 7 April.

He claimed they killed 50 soldiers while they lost one fighter.

Sudanese military spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

The government army carries out a military campaign on the positions of the SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states since June 2011.

On Friday the Troika countries, U.S. U.K. and Norway called on the Sudanese warring parties to stop the fighting and declare unilateral cessation of hostilities.

they further urged the opposition groups including the SPLM-N to sign the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union mediation team.

(ST)