Small Arms Survey said in its latest report on the war in South Kordofan that it found no evidence of weapons supplies from the Government of South Sudan to the SPLM-North rebels, though some political and logistical support was evident.
The report titled “New War, Old Enemies: Conflict Dynamics in South Kordofan” said weapons and vehicles seized from the Sudan Armed Forces between June 2011 and April 2012 provided the rebels’ most valuable military resources.
The report added that the SPLM-N appears to have made significant gains in the first year of war with some 30,000 troops forces capturing a large part of the Nuba Mountains area.
It noted that a small contingent of 700 to 1,000 experienced Justice and Equality Movement fighters from Darfur was crucial to SPLA-N victories.
The report added that the army only controls the skies in Nuba Mountains and Antonov’s bombs did not lead to military advances but succeeded in terrorizing and displacing the local population.