Sudanese army liberates rebel stronghold in South Kordofan: spokesman

Sudanese army on Tuesday said it controlled Um Sirdiba town, a stronghold of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector in South Kordofan State.

"The army is continuing its advancement towards its planned targets at all axes. It is maintaining the initiative and closing on the rebels," Ahmed Khalifa Al-Shami, Sudanese army spokesman, said in a statement.

"The army has managed to liberate Um Sirdiba town, the main stronghold of the rebels at Kadogli sector and one of their important command centers," he noted.

He said the army also liberated al-Mushtaraka area and inflicted heavy loss of lives and equipment among the enemy that are currently being listed.

Al-Shami further said the Sudanese army on Tuesday also repulsed a desperate attempt by the rebels to restore Al Karkaraia area which was liberated on Monday, saying "we have defeated them, where 55 rebels were killed and scores others injured."

On Monday, the Sudanese army announced the liberation of five strategic areas in South Kordofan after attacking the rebels of the SPLM/northern sector.

The SPLM/northern sector has been fighting the central government at Blue Nile and South Kordofan areas since 2011.

Last week a most recent round of talks between the government and the SPLM/northern sector rebels failed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, under the patronage of the African Union.

Khartoum unilaterally signed on a road-map deal proposed by the African mediation, while the SPLM/northern sector and other Darfur rebel movements declined to sign the deal. Endit