SPLM-N says Sudanese army just captured “external points” of Kilgu area

June 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Saturday has acknowledged that the Sudanese army took over “external points” around the strategic area of Jebel Kilgu in the Blue Nile state.

On Thursday, the Blue Nile Governor Hussein Yassin Abu Sorwal told Ashrooq TV that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) managed to retake control of the rugged area, located at 30 km south of the state capital Ed-Damazin, adding that the armed forces have arrested around one hundred rebels.

However, the SPLM-N denied Abu Sorwal’s statements and asserted that the fighting is still taking place in the area.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, SPLM-N leadership said the government army seized control of “external points” around the Jebel Kilgu and burned down a vehicle before its fighters withdrew from the area.

The SPLM-N has vehemently denied Yassen’s claims that SAF arrested one hundred of its fighters, accusing the retreating “Janjaweed Militia” of attacking and arresting civilians in two villages located at 5 km south of Ed-Damazin.

The statement was alluding to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militiamen whom the government dispatched last week to reinforce the regular forces.

The SRF militiamen are accused of taking part in the counterinsurgency campaign led by the Sudanese army against Darfur rebel groups. UN agencies estimate that some 300 thousands civilians were killed.

The statement added that “Abu Sorwal is aware of the attacks against the two villages”, pointing that the locals who were arrested by the “Janjaweed force have nothing to do with the SPLM-N”.

The SPLM-N has held Abu Sorwal responsible for the safety of those locals and warned him against compromising their lives.

It is noteworthy that SAF didn’t issue a statement about the outcome of the fighting in Kilgu.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011.

(ST)