Sudanese Defense Minister Abdel Rahim Hussein described fights between the Sudan government forces and rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in South Darfur state as "crucial".

Speaking during a visit to soldiers injures in the battle, the minister added that the Sudanese forces inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment upon rebels ranks.

Hussein accused South Sudan of supporting and harboring the rebel group, saying that the rebels received training at the hands of international experts to cause security chaos and mar the elections in Sudan.