SPLM-N claims killing of 40 govt. troops in Blue Nile’s Kilgo

About 40 government troops were reportedly killed in a new battle between government forces and rebel combatants of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Kilgo in Blue Nile State on Sunday morning.

Under command of Gen. Ahmed El Omda Badi and the direct command of Lt. Col. Farid El Fahal Mousa the SPLM-N again defeated army and militia forces in the Kilgo mountains, spokesman Arno Ngutulu Lodi reported in a statement today.

In the battle that lasted more than four hours, fighters of the SPLM-N Blue Nile/Sennar 2nd division killed at least 40 government troops and wounded more than 80 others. Two rebels were killed and three others were wounded, the statement reads.

They further seized one RPG-7 missile launcher, three PKM machineguns, and 25 AKM-47 rifles in good condition.

“It seems that the National Congress Party regime does not care at all about the many repeated losses in the Ingessana Hills and especially the Kilgo Mountains,” Lodi stated.

“Hundreds of young Sudanese lives were lost and many others were wounded in 21 failed attempts [by government forces] to occupy the area.”

The rebel spokesman added that an Antonov of the Sudanese Air Force attacked Fadam village in Kurmuk locality with 14 barrel bombs. No casualties were reported. A number of cattle were killed.

He concludes the statement by saying that “the SPLM-N fighters will continue to support the Sudanese struggle to entirely uproot this regime”.

The previous battle for Kilgo took place on 8 March. Lodi reported that at least 18 soldiers were killed.