The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) clashed with the Justice and Equality Movement in South Kordofan State after entering into Trogi, an area controlled by the rebels since 2011.

SAF’s advance into the area if left unchecked would threaten to cut the way between the rebel-held Nuba Mountains and South Sudan. But according to Jibril Bilal, spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the army troops were defeated in the area with heavy losses.

“Talk about advancing Sudanese forces in those areas is just media propaganda by the Sudanese government in order to raise the morale of paralyzed and frustrated government forces,” Bilal added.

He acknowledged, however, that clashes between the JEM forces, fighting under the banner of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, and the SAF continued in the areas of Jau and Trogi until yesterday, saying that the rebels thoroughly defeated the government forces in those areas and seized large quantities of ammunition and military equipment.

“At Trogi area, our forces managed to destroy one of the army’s tanks and we captured a number of other big artillery, vehicles and ammunitions. Also we defeated another military convoy which was heading to Jau area,” Bilal stated.

The spokesman claimed that dozens were killed including four officers whom he named as Col. Ibrahim Ahmed, Maj. Osman El Asam, Maj. Omar El Dikheiri, and Lt. Mohamed Ali Jakki. 

Sudan’s army spokesman likewise confirmed the fighting but described it as a victory during which ‘insurgents’ were expelled from the areas. He said the army entered the areas of Trogi, Angolo and El Dabkaya. The enemy fled, leaving many dead and war materiel behind, Saad stated.

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