SLM Abdelshafi says no to current Darfur peace process

January 19, 2008 — The African Union and the United Nations have provided key logistical support to airlift field commanders and representatives of the Darfur Movements from Darfur (liberated areas) to Juba, South Sudan. Under the auspices of The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM), the Juba Conference to unify the ranks of Darfur Movements convened during the period of October 12-December 14, 2007. At the conclusion of Juba Proceedings, the AU and the UN provided the same logistical support to help airlifting a good number of the Movements’ field commanders back to the liberated areas in Darfur. Since December 13, 2007, however, the airlifting process has slowed down due to many reasons. It is expected that the process will restart within the coming days.

While the rest of the SLM/A members awaiting to be airlifted to Darfur from Juba, the two UN and AU special envoys (Jan Eliasson, and Salim Ahmed Salim, respectively) arrived to Juba, South Sudan, from Darfur after visiting areas in Darfur that are under the control of the SLM/A. Subsequently, an SLM/A delegation (led by Commander Ahmed Abdelshafi Toba, Chairman of the SLM and Commander in Chief of the SLA, and Chairman of the Supreme Command Council) met with the two special envoys in Juba, on Friday, January 18, 2007.

During the meeting, the two special envoys admitted that, the situation in Darfur has worsened, especially in IDPs camps, but there have been great expectations among members of the international community as well as among Darfur society to start peace talks. The main reason for the special envoys visit was to consult with all stakeholders to find a way forward with regard to the political process. The two envoys have extended their gratitude to the SPLM/A for their efforts to reunite Darfur Movements, and they have also appreciated the efforts exerted by Darfur Movements to unite their ranks.

The two special envoys then discussed with the SLM/A delegation a proposed initiative to hold a consultative meeting (to include Darfur Movements) under the auspices of the AU-UN Mediation Team after four to six weeks (an Arusha-type meeting and it does not have to be in Arusha). Workshops will then be conducted to build the capacity of the Darfur Movements’ negotiators either after this meeting or prior to the start of the peace talks.

In his response, Ahmed Abdelshafi, reminded the special envoys that the SLM/A is still waiting for a reply from the AU-UN Mediation Team regarding the SLM/A’s letter dated October 27, 2007 concerning the political process (the letter was addressed to the two special envoys). Reunification of Darfur Movements still remains at the top of the SLM/A agenda. The SLM/A believes that it would be unwise to conduct an Arusha-type meeting at this point in time. Instead, the SLM/A suggested a Juba-type meeting (Juba-2) under the auspices of the SPLM/A to give Darfur Movements a chance to reunite themselves, and he (Abdelshafi) solicited support from the international community. Another issue that makes the start of peace talks difficult is the issue of violations that have been continuously committed by the National Congress Party (NCP) which eventually led to creating an atmosphere that is nonconductive.

Moreover, Abdelshafi asked the UN and the AU to guarantee the safety of the SLM/A’s representatives with the Cease Fire Commission (CFC), or yet, the SLM/A will pull its representatives out of the CFC.

Finally, the Chairman of the SLM/A reaffirmed the movement’s prior stance concerning the composition of the AU-UN Hybrid Forces and its rejection to the participation of any country that did not condemn the NCP on Darfur, or sidelined itself with the NCP, or singed security or military agreements/protocols with the NCP. On the top of such list are: Egypt, China, and Pakistan. Regrettably, the international community has not shown a much needed resolve and put pressure on the NCP as the latter is still putting obstacles on the face of deploying the hybrid forces using unjustifiable reasons.

In addition to the Chairman of the SLM/A, the following were also present at the meeting:

· Mohamed Ali Klai
· Siddig Abdelkarim (Siddig Massaleit)
· Mohmoud Khatir Juma
· Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim
· Ahmed Khalil
· Ahmed Adam Abdalla
· Mohamed Salih Harba
· Elhag Younis Abaker
· Khalifa Hassan Humaida
· Elhadi Idriss Yahya
· Abdelaziz Yahia
· Yahia Mohamed Osman
· Nouri Abdalla

Esam Elhag
Spokesperson for the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
Phone: +00393382014390
Thuraya: +8821633358115
Email: [email protected]
Date: January 19, 2008