Sudanese army at outskirts of rebel stronghold in Blue Nile state

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said Wednesday that the Sudanese army was at the outskirts of Kurmuk town, the stronghold of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) which is clashing with government forces in Blue Nile state, southern Sudan. "The armed forces and the people's defense forces are at the outskirts of Kurmuk and they are determined to perform the Eid prayer at the town after liberating it from the remnants of mercenaries," said al-Bashir when addressing a people's rally in Omdurman Wednesday. The SPLA fighters are launching their military operations against the Sudanese army from Kurmuk town. Since September this year, the Blue Nile area has been witnessing armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the SPLA, which pushed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to declare a state of emergency in Blue Nile and removed its governor Malik Aqar who is chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement's (SPLM) northern sector. Blue Nile state occupies a strategic location as it borders Ethiopia which represents a strategic depth for both Sudan and South Sudan. Around 20,000 of SPLA fighters, who fought the Sudanese government during the civil war between north and south Sudan, are in the Blue Nile State.