National Democratic Alliance reportedly dissatisfied with government, rebels deal
KHARTOUM, Nov. 22, 2003 — Informed sources have described the meeting between the leader of the people’s movement [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement SPLM], Dr John Garang, and the leaders of the [National Democratic] Alliance [NDA] in Asmara as indifferent and disappointing for the NDA.
The sources said the NDA told Garang that it was dissatisfied with issue of bilateral partnership between the government and the SPLM, as well as the direction the peace negotiations were heading. However, Garang just promised to try and convince the government to increase the number of parties attending the talks.
The sources further said Garang told the NDA that he could not engage in any [military] aggression against the government, noting his commitments before the international community and which he could not violate.
The sources said Garang’s disengagement from the military agenda and his stressing that he could not enter into any military cooperation with the NDA led to frustration within NDA, which had been relying and banking on Garang’s military might. [It worth noting that the SPLM is a member of the NDA]
BBC Monitoring Middle East