Hundreds of Damazin citizens who previously fled the town reportedly returned back on the eve of the announcement of Sudanese elections results. Several eyewitnesses told Radio Tamazuj that about 1000 local residents returned back to the town recently.

The local residents had feared that fighting could erupt between the government forces and the SPLA-North rebels following a threat by the rebel chief of staff Abdel-Aziz Al Hilu to sabotage the elections in South Kordofan and Blue Nile region.

Separately, local authorities in Blue Nile State have started to transport citizens in Garya 10 to a new site. The citizens were transported to a village north of Damazin town.

The move came after several civilians were killed and houses torched during fighting between the army and SPLA-North rebels over last two weeks.