Sudan Troops Battle Rebels in Border Area
By ISMA’IL KUSHKUSH
Published: February 20, 2013
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[KSSKSS]> ¶ KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudanese forces said
late Monday that they had captured an area from rebels in the restive state
of Blue Nile in fierce fighting that led to the deaths of 66 rebels and
several government soldiers.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[AsbAsb]> ¶ A statement by the rebel Sudanese People’s
Liberation Army/Movement-North, however, disputed the Sudanese Army’s
claims, saying its fighters had killed 86 soldiers, and a spokesman said the
rebels still held the contested area, called Mufu.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[TSgFiB]> ¶ The Sudanese government has been
struggling to control territory in Blue Nile and other areas along the
border with
<
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/so
uth-sudan/index.html?inline=nyt-geo> South Sudan. Fighting in Blue Nile
broke out in June 2011, a month before South Sudan seceded from Sudan, when
fighters once allied with rebels in the south refused to disarm.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[SstSst]> ¶ Sudan says that South Sudan is supporting
the rebels north of the border, a charge South Sudan denies.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[FwaTSM]> ¶ Fighting was also reported this week in
the border state of South Kordofan, which has had more battles than Blue
Nile. The Sudanese Media Center, a semiofficial news service believed to be
close to Sudan’s security apparatus, said the fighting along the badly
marked border was between the Messeiriya tribe and the South Sudanese
military and had left 23 people dead.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[AroDth]> ¶ A resident of the area, who gave his name
only as Yassir, confirmed the fighting, but he said it was unclear who was
involved. Different tribes have historically clashed over grazing rights and
water resources.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[AsfAsf]> ¶ A spokesman for the South Sudanese Army,
Philip Aguer, could not be reached for comment.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[DtdUib]> ¶ During the dry season, the Messeiriya, an
Arab tribe, have historically moved south into what is now South Sudan to
find more fertile grazing lands for their cattle. Unresolved issues between
Sudan and South Sudan have mainly stopped the migration this year, leaving
thousands of cattle vulnerable.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[TtcAar]> ¶ The two countries remain at an impasse
over issues like the creation of a buffer zone and what Sudan says is the
South’s support for the rebels. As a result, South Sudan refuses to restart
production of oil that flows through pipelines to the north and could aid
the economies of both countries.
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/world/africa/fierce-fighting-breaks-out-i
n-restive-sudanese-state.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=africa&adxnnlx=1361389634-4f
p2QMDcseweIuABpwBr5A#p[OFtOFt]> ¶ On Friday, the United States issued a
statement urging “both sides to refrain immediately from any actions that
could further destabilize the border areas between South Sudan and Sudan.”
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Received on Wed Feb 20 2013 - 15:25:19 EST
