Sudan rebel movement claims repulsing gov't army attack in Blue Nile

Rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector on Tuesday claimed it repulsed an attack by Sudanese army in Blue Nile State.

"Forces of the SPLM/northern sector in Blue Nile repulsed an attack by the government forces against an external point at Al-Rum area in the state," Arno Taloudy, the spokesman of the SPLM/northern sector, said in a statement.

He explained that one of the movement's soldiers was injured during the attack, without giving any statistics about loss among the government forces.

"The attack came few hours after the government declared extension of cease-fire for six months," he said.

In March 2016, Sudan's Council of Ministers decided to extend the cease-fire for six more months at all conflict zones in Sudan.

The Sudanese army could not be immediately reached for comment on the rebels' claim.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector at South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011.

It has also been battling a group of armed movements in the Darfur region since 2003.

So far, 10 rounds of peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/northern sector in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have failed to end the conflict in the two areas. Endit