Darfur SLA commanders renew their support to Al-Nur’s leadership
Dec 21, 2006 (PARIS) — The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army field commanders have renewed their support to Abdelwahid al Nur’s leadership, a press statement said.,
The military spokesperson of the SLA, Nimir Mohamed Abdelrahman stated that the military command of the SLA led by the General Commander Abdelgadir Abdelrahman Ibrahim had issued a statement announcing their loyalty to Abdelwahid al-Nur, the founder of the SLM/A.
The statement which includes the names of the leading commanders who back Al-Nur and their satellite telephones urged the international community to support the SLM unity.
After Minawi dissidence in November 2005, Al-Nur control of the SLM had been destabilized by many dissident groups. It seems that his opposition of the Darfur Peace Agreement and his popularity among Darfur displaced people have convinced the reluctant commanders pushing them to back his leadership.
Abdelwahid was criticised by the field commanders for his authoritarian style of leadership but as it was stated by some field commanders such criticism doe not mean they do not recognize him as leader of the movement.
The ongoing efforts in Darfur to reunite the SLM on the ground could lead to the reconciliation between Al-Nur and Ahmed Abdelshafi. The dominant characteristic of these reunification efforts that they are engaged by the different field commander who work together since the signing of the DPA last May.
The unity of the military commanders led them to seek the political reunification of the movement. The commanders of the main rebel group in Darfur accuse Khartoum of hindering their efforts to realize the complete reunification.
Yesterday and on 15-16 November, the Sudanese army and the Janjaweed militia attacked rebel positions or convoy while they are holding or going to hold a meeting on the reunification.
(ST)
The following is the text of the SLM/A statement:
Statement from the Military Spokesman of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
To: The International Community and the Stakeholders in Darfur
Confirming to the Statement issued by the General Commander of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, Abdulgadir Abdurrahman Ibrahim (Gadora) on 11th of December 2006 that the Movement is united under the leadership of the chairman Abdul Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Elnour, hereby I would like to send special thanks and appreciation to the tireless efforts exerted so far by the following leaders, and off course all the leaders of SLM/A Sectors, whose names I can not mention to unite the Movement.
The SLM/A General Commander of the Army (Gadora), The SLM/A deputy General commander of the Army Mohamed Adam Abdulsalaam (Tarrada), The General Secretary of the Movement Jarelnabi Abdulkarim Younis, The commander of the north sector Suleiman Ibrahim Maragan, The Commander of Eian Siro Sector Ali Haroun (Doud), the Commander of Jebel Moon Sector Ibrahim Mohammed Nasir The Commander of the western Sector Yousif Ahmed Yousif (Karrjakola).
Their Thuraya phones are: – +8821621515486, +8821621206687, +8821621525586, +8821621197451, +8821633328844, +8821633351771, +8821655581052. Respectively.
Accordingly, we kindly appeal to the International Community and the entire Stakeholders in Darfur to give us the Political, Moral and material Support to foster SLM/A unity, under the leadership of his Historical chairman. Ours is a real people’s revolution, of all the people and always it will be.
Unity, Struggle, Victory.
Nimir Mohamed Abdulrahman (Jara),
The Military Spokesman of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army.
Tel:+8821655599732.
21/12/2006