SPLM-N report major govt. attacks in South Kordofan

The Sudanese government reportedly launched a major offensive on areas held by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) today.

The military spokesman for the SPLM-N, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, reported in a statement today that government forces launched attacks in six different locations in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan this morning.

Areas in Buram, Um Dorain, Heiban, and Dalami were targeted, Lodi reported. He said that “South Sudanese militiamen of the opposition” were fighting alongside the Sudanese army and allied militia troops.

“This shows how the National Congress Party regime is linked with these militias. The authorities even opened training centres for them in Abu Jubeiha, El Liri, and other places in Sudan.”

The rebel spokesman further stated that the SPLM-N fighters destroyed a military convoy consisting of 100 vehicles in the vicinity of the state capital Kadugli. 17 army soldiers were killed and several others were captured. The rebels seized one T-72 tank, and two Land Cruisers mounted with Dushka machineguns “in good condition”.

Lodi added that the rebel fighters killed eight government troops in a battle in the area of El Teis in Buram locality, “among them South Sudanese militiamen of the opposition”.

The rebels seized two Land Cruisers and destroyed another. They also seized three 60 mm mortars.

In the area of Hamra, east of Kadugli, the SPLM-N combatants repelled an attack as well, Lodi stated. “The commanding officer of this contingent is a South Sudanese, from the Shilluk tribe,” Lodi stated, citing “credible information”.

In addition, the rebels withstood a government attack in the Kega hills near Talodi.

The spokesman concluded that “15 comrades sustained minor injuries”.