Sudan #39;s defence minister renews pledge to crush rebellion

December 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's defence minister, Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, has underscored before the parliament on Tuesday the ability of the army to stop rebel infiltrations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile as well as ending rebellion in the country. Last week, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) accused the rebel Sudan People's...

December 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s defence minister, Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, has underscored before the parliament on Tuesday the ability of the army to stop rebel infiltrations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile as well as ending rebellion in the country.

Sudan’s defense minister, Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein (Photo: Reuters)

Last week, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) accused the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) of launching several attacks against its positions in South Kordofan.

However, the SPLM-N denies these accusations and said its forces only repulsed attacks carried out by SAF troops on its defensive positions around South Kordofan capital, Kadugli.

Hussein, who deposited his ministry’s 2015 plan at the parliament on Tuesday, said the government is keen to upgrade the combat capabilities of the army, adding the “Decisive Summer campaign operations will crush rebellion” in the country.

He also underscored that SAF is capable of ending the infiltration operations carried out by the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
On Monday, SAF acknowledged that the SPLM-N had shelled the outskirts of Kadugli using Katyusha rockets.

Last week, SAF accused SPLM-N of launching attacks in Blinga and al-Atmoor villages in South Kordofan, which follow another attack the day before near Alahimar area.

The defence minister further stressed that the army is resolved to end rebellion in all states of the country, saying they will continue to raise combat capabilities of SAF through training particularly at the air and naval defence forces.

On Sunday, SAF said it will deploy troops extensively across the country to enforce the state authority, stressing that they will continue their “Decisive Summer” campaign aimed at eradicating the insurgency.

Hussein pointed that his ministry’s plan for 2015 aims to promote social security and the rule of law besides localisation of military industries in Sudan.

CALLS TO CRUSH REBELLION

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the council of the national unity government’s parties, Aboud Jabir, called for enabling SAF and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and the police to crush the rebels and prevent them from imposing their agendas through negotiations.

He accused, in statements to the pro-government Sudan Media Centre (SMC), the SPLM-N of opting for war and seeking to impose agendas that has nothing to do with the crisis in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

On Monday, the African mediation announced suspension of the ninth round of talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N on South Kordofan and Blue Nile in Addis Ababa.

The process, which resumed on 13 November, has very quickly stalled over the priorities that should be addressed by the African Union brokered process.

Khartoum said the negotiations should focus on a ceasefire and the security arrangements in the Two Areas, but the rebels insisted on a comprehensive cessation of hostilities pointing that its purpose is to include all the rebel groups in the national dialogue process.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and SAF since 2011.

(ST)