SLM’s al-Nur says peace deal misses core concern of Darfur people
May 8, 2006 (ABUJA) — The Abdelwahed al-Nur head of a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) has in strong terms denounced the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed on Friday 5 May by the Sudanese government and the Minni Menawi faction of the SLM/A.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday 7 May, al-Nur described the peace agreement, brokered by the African Union in conjunction with the international mediators and partners as totally deficient in addressing the core concern of the Darfur people and predicted that it would not stop genocide or ethnic cleansing in Darfur, the Nigerian Daily Trust reported.
According to al-Nur, the peace agreement as currently presented lacks effective and clear mechanism for the disarmament of the Janjaweed militia, an Arab mounted gunmen suspected to be proxies of the Sudanese government. He further admitted that tremendous international good will and concern has been expended on Darfur crises but said that his movement cannot accept the peace agreement in its present form as it would make them the employees of the Sudan government in Khartoum.
He however, sated that the SLM/A would continue to abide by N’djamena ceasefire agreement but would however, defend themselves if attacked.
The SLM/A, he said, has come under tremendous pressure from the international community to sign the peace agreement, the latest been a telephone call from the European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. SLM/A leader, however regretted that he could not give in , to these pressure because his contact in Darfur proper, which cut across the movement’s commanders, internally displaced persons and refugees convinced him that the overwhelming people of Darfur which he estimated at 92% completely rejected the peace agreement.
Abdelwahed however stated that both him and his movement would be available for further negotiation on acceptable document, that would bring peace to Darfur.
He commended and expressed gratitude to Nigerian President Obasanjo, his US counterpart, George Bush, the AU chief mediator and special envoy, Salim A. Salim for sustained concern to the people of Darfur and implored them not to loose interest in Darfur on account of his movement’s refusal to endorse the agreement.
(Daily Trust/ST)