Sudanese rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), claimed yesterday to have clashed with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) inside Kurmuk, Blue Nile state and to be in the process of taking control of the town.

“Our forces are with high morals as they succeeded in defeating SAF and we will keep on advancing to the rest of the areas,” claimed SPLA-N spokesman, Arno Ngotologu.

He added when speaking with Radio Tamazuj yesterday that their forces defeated SAF in a battle for the Airport on the 20^th of this month, prompting SAF to recede. Arno also claimed that their forces will continue to pressure SAF until the SPLA-N have fully taken the town of Kurmuk.

The SPLA-N, along with other groups in the border region, have been fighting the Sudanese government in Blue Nile State since 2011, shortly after South Sudan’s declaration of independence.  South Sudan’s government have been accused of supporting the rebel group although they have repeatedly denied this allegation.

Photo credit: SPLA-N fire a mortar during an offensive on Tolodi, March 2012 (Azhari Guda / NubaReports.org)

Related: SPLM-N: 'Fighting in Kurmuk continues' (25 February 2013)