Sudan executes a defector SLA commander in Darfur- rebels
March 25, 2007 (ROMA) — Sudanese authorities have killed, a commander of a former rebel faction signatory of Darfur peace agreement after his defection, a rebel faction announced today.
Sudanese security forces killed the head of the regiments of artillery within the Sudan Liberation Army led by Minni Minawi, commander Abdelshafi Jumah, the spokesperson of a holdout SLM faction, Esam al-Haj, said today.
Jumah and his two bodyguards were killed between Lebdo and Muhajeriah in South Darfur after his departure from Nyala to join the non-signatories rebels.
Jumah’s defection is not the first since the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement between Sudanese government and a SLM faction led by Minni Minawi in may last year.
In October 2006, three leading commanders of SLM-MM — Mohamed Ali Klai, Mohamed Hamid Darbayen and Salah Mustafa Jok — had defected and joined the ranks of the holdout rebels:.
In another move, the military command of SLA-MM denounced yesterday the killing of SLA members in Khartoum. A press release in Arabic signed by commanders Hmad Shatta and Ahmed Mohamed Jari urged all the SLA troops in Khartoum to regain “the liberated area”. It further condemned “Minawi plots” against the SLA.
In January 2007, The Commander in Chief of the SLA-Minawi, Juma Hagar, rejected a plan initially agreed by the political leadership his group to integrate his forces into the Sudanese army immediately before the implementation of other clauses stipulated in the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Minni Minawi, the Senior presidential aide, seems more and more isolated among his faction. What is not clear is precisely his relation with the military command of the faction led by Hagar.
SLM spokesperson, Esam al-Haj, who was the spokesperson of Minawi faction, warned in his statement that Sudanese security service plans to kill other 60 leading members in the faction.
Observers say Minawi has no other option than to stick to his presidential post. Because, if the rejoin the rebellion, he would lose any thing particularly he is from the Zaggawa small ethnic group, which is better represented by another rebel leader.
(ST)