Sudan’s Acting President visits Blue Nile state

Sudan’s Acting President, Mohamed Taha, has made his first visit to Damazin in Blue Nile state since the conflict began earlier this month. Fighting broke out between the Sudanese troops and members of the northern branch of South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLA-N). The conflict is thought to have ignited after members of the SPLA-N attacked a number of public institutions in Damazin. It is an extension of the South Kordofan conflict over the partition of Sudan. The Sudanese government has declared a state of emergency in the Blue Nile state. The UN says that the fighting has displaced up to 100,000 people in the past month. Local political forces have refused to negotiate with the former governor, Malik Aqar, who is the head of the SPLA-N. Aqar was sacked by the Sudanese President, Omar Bashir, at the beginning of September after the clashes broke out. Aqar is currently taking sanctuary in South Sudan, but has pledged a counter-attack, warning that civil war may spread throughout northern Sudan. Local politicians from a range of parties have pledged support for the Sudanese army in its campaign against the SPLM-F. They have said that the former-Governor’s opposition to the government in Khartoum, and his assault on citizens and state property do not reflect the values of humanity. Some have said that "Aqar is a home destroyer."