‘Fighting continues in Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile’: SPLM-N

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), report that the fighting between the Movement and Sudanese government forces is ongoing in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, as well as in Blue Nile state.

SPLM-N military spokesman Arnu Ngutulu Lodi told Radio Dabanga that the movement’s forces laid siege to a military convoy of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) at Kurmuk-Mufu at 4 pm on Saturday and “inflicted heavy casualties in both men and equipment”.

In a second statement, Lodi reports that “the SAL forces and militias sent to occupy SPLM-N controlled areas in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, have been repeatedly defeated and suffered heavy losses in men and equipment.”

Lodi told Radio Dabanga that “at 4 pm on Friday, SAF forces attempted to occupy the Angartu area, but were heavily defeated by forces of the SPLM-N Mandi sector under command of Lt. Col. Aburas Alabino. They were pursued to Talodi town. The SPLM-N seized a T-85 tank in good condition, two 60mm mortars and one AKM rifle.

“One tank and two Land Cruisers mounted with machineguns were burned, while the SAF left 24 dead on the ground. We lost three men, while four others were wounded and one Land Cruiser was destroyed.”

Lodi says that the SAF attacked the Alazrag area at 3pm on Thursday. “They were repulsed by the SPLM-N forces Hieban sector under Brig. Gen. Nimeri Murad. During three hours of fighting, Gen. Murad’s forces man managed to destroy one tank, one vehicle mounted with four-barrel machineguns, one vehicle mounted with ZU-23mm, and another vehicle mounted with a B-10 missile launcher.

On the second day, eight vehicles mounted with Dushka machineguns and a Man truck were destroyed, according to Lodi. “Two enemy battalions fled the battle with all equipment and vehicles, while the remaining forces are under complete siege.”

Lodi says that on Saturday, “the SAF forces attempted to lift the siege for the second time on Karkaria, but they were defeated by SPLM-N East Kadugli sector commanded by Brig. Gen. Abud Andraus and forced to flee the area. One enemy vehicle was completely destroyed.”

The SAF tried to advance into Umdulu on Thursday at Torlotiso Hill, Lodi continues. “The SPLM-N seized one vehicle mounted with a ZU-23mm rocket launcher. Three other vehicles were destroyed and 12 dead bodies left on the ground.

“At 3 pm on the same day, two details of SAF forces attempted to advance into Umserdiba for the first time. The SPLM-N seized 57 rounds for the T-72 tank, one RPG-7, and two AKM rifles.”

Lodi claims that the SAF left six dead bodies, and many wounded soldiers fled. “A Sudanese Air Force Antonov then bombed the area just as civilians were about to pray at Umserdiba Mosque. We lost two soldiers. Civilians Kechi Alati (80), an old man, and a 12-year-old child killed were killed by barrel bombs.” Lodi concludes.