{"id":176420,"date":"2018-04-30T10:31:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-30T10:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dabangasudan.preview.websight.nl\/sudan-forces-take-control-of-rebel-held-areas-in-blue-nile\/"},"modified":"2018-04-30T10:31:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-30T10:31:00","slug":"sudan-forces-take-control-of-rebel-held-areas-in-blue-nile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-forces-take-control-of-rebel-held-areas-in-blue-nile","title":{"rendered":"Sudan forces take control of rebel-held areas in Blue Nile"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), backed by army troops, attacked areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in Blue Nile State on Saturday. The rebel group condemned the violation of the ceasefire declared by President Omar Al Bashir.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The RSF, Sudan’s main militia, reported at its Facebook page on Sunday that it has regained control over the areas Goya El Jadida, Goya El Gadima, Kabadik, and Jiko.<\/p>\n

The SPLM-N Blue Nile faction under the leadership of Malik Agar confirmed the attacks.<\/p>\n

According to a statement by the SPLM-N chief of general staff, Ahmed El Omda, the RSF launched a 10-hour attack on rebel sites in the areas of Soda and Jaghab in Jebel Ban – which is an extension of the Ingessana Hills.<\/p>\n

The movement claimed it managed to thwart the attacks in both areas.<\/p>\n

The fighting resulted in the displacement of a large number of civilians, mostly elderly people, women and children, who took refuge in the mountains.<\/p>\n

The SPLM-N called on the African Union, the United Nations, the Sudan Troika (USA, UK, and Norway), and other members of the international community to intervene and put a halt to the hostilities, condemn the violation of the ceasefire in Blue Nile, and hold the government accountable.<\/p>\n

\"\"‘Massive offensive’<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Thursday, El Omda reported “a massive offensive<\/a>” by the RSF against SPLM-N combatants in Blue Nile state.<\/p>\n

In early January, President Al Bashir extended the government’s unilateral cessation of hostilities for three months. The SPLM-N Blue Nile faction unilaterally declared a six-month ceasefire<\/a> on December 30, 2017.<\/p>\n

After a period of relative peace since 2005, fighting between the SPLM-N and the government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states (the Two Areas) erupted again in 2011.<\/p>\n