South Sudan: Border Conflict Resumes

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) has declared that it seized a key border area in the embattled state of South Kordofan.

SPLM-N, a banned political party in Sudan and officially considered a rebel group, has fought the Sudanese army in South Kordofan state since June, where an estimated 350,000 people have been displaced as a result of fighting and more than 100,000 have sought refuge in South Sudan.

Military vehicles, buses and a large number of ambulances were seen around Khartoum on Monday and yesterday as more troops are being sent to South Kordofan by road, while wounded soldiers are brought into the army hospitals in Khartoum state for treatment.

Just two weeks ago, a memorandum allegedly signed by 700 high-ranking army officers was disseminated by newspapers. Its authenticity is yet to be verified, but the memorandum states that the Sudanese army is unprepared to fight in another war and discouraged a war with South Sudan.

Sudan has escalated its war with South Sudan for weeks over oil. Many experts fear a full-blown war may erupt between the neighbouring states.

Tired of conflicts

Although about 70 per cent of Sudan's income is spent on security, there are doubts on whether the Sudanese army could engage in another conflict after years of fighting in South Sudan, Darfur and now the two states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

A police officer told Africa Review on condition of anonymity that he was flown into Blue Nile State recently and found himself in a battlefield.

"I'm not in the army and this made me surprised when I was told to go to Damazin, I found myself in a war situation that I'm unprepared for," he said.