SPLM-N: 80% Blue Nile under our control

The resistance group says it has a large number of state officials in custody

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) announced on Friday that its armed wing, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), had nearly 80 per cent of Blue Nile state under its control.Chairman Mallik Agar said that all regions in the state, which recently witnessed clashes between the SPLA and the Sudanese forces, except Damazin and Roseires are under the opposition army’s control.

He added that the SPLA had arrested a large number of army personnel, police officers, militia men and security service officials. Aggar pointed out in a press conference in Kurmuk in Blue Nile state that the Sudanese air force bombed the city with Antonov aircrafts and MiGs that led to a large number of deaths, injuries and displacement of civilians.

“The civilians were fleeing from their home out of fear of aircrafts flying overhead. I would like to appeal to the international bodies to intervene and help citizens in affected areas. They are suffering from indiscriminate bombing by government aircrafts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile,” he added.

Aggar said defiantly that the fighting in the region will continue until a framework agreement about the future of Sudan is reached.

 The group said that it seeks to develop a new constitution for Sudan, taking into account the religious, ethnic and cultural pluralism.

DUP: NCP militias involved in targeted killings

Tom Hajo, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said that militias working for the Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) had carried out targeted killings of 50-60 per cent of the population of the Blue Nile State.

Those who were arrested included residents of different ethnicty in Sennar working in Damazin city, capital of Blue Nile.

Hajo said in the joint news conference in Kurmuk, “I would like to tell the Sudanese people, including political forces, not to allow the NCP to create divisions on ethnic lines.”