Sudanese armed group calls to review Juba peace agreement
October 1, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Third Front “Tamazaj” called to review the Juba Peace Agreement, saying major signatory groups kidnapped the peace agreement and diverted it to their own interests.
The Juba Peace Agreement has been criticized by political forces including the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), which call to review the deal, particularly the security arrangements because it allows the armed groups to keep arms until the elections.
On Saturday, Tamazuj, joined the calls to review the agreement saying it empowers only certain groups to the detriment of other signatories.
“The Juba Agreement contains major mistakes and it must be reviewed and evaluated because those who participate in the government under the agreement work only for their interests and groups,” Tamazuj leader Mohamed Ali Qureshi told Sudan Tribune.
“They hijacked the agreement which addresses many issues but their experience was a failure,” Qureshi stressed.
He added that the signatories of the contested deal are 14 armed and political movements but it benefits only six groups, five in Darfur and one in the Blue Nile region.
Tamazuj which includes groups from border areas in Kordofan and Darfur regions was not known as a rebel group before joining the agreement. The main armed groups claim that the group is made up of Sudanese army militiamen.
The group did not participate in the peace process but joined the agreement once it was signed by the main former rebel groups.
No positions in the central or regional government have been allocated to the group in line with the power-sharing chapter of the Juba peace agreement.
Also, last September Tamazuj Secretary-General, Yasir Mohamed Hassan, accused the government of violating the peace agreement and stressed the need to fulfil the security arrangements. He added they can no longer control their armed elements.
Deputy head of the Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Hemetti, in August, stated that Tamazuj fighters were involved in the bloody tribal clashes that took place in West Darfur state and announced the arrest of all its leaders in the state.
Qureshi said that Darfur signatory groups are striving hard to eject them from the peace agreement. He disclosed that they had refused that Tamazuj joins the peace pact.
He further warned against a return to war again in the western Sudan region because that certains want to control Darfur and dominate its people.
“We (have the support of) tribal components in all the five states of Darfur. Even those who seek to exclude us are ignorant of the facts, and this is the beginning of a new war,” he warned.
Tamazuj’s leader went further to censure the joint security forces for the protection of civilians that the government and Darfur signatory groups formed recently.
According to Quereshi, these forces are composed of certain ethnicities, non-neutral and not representing the Darfur region.
In addition, he attacked the security forces in the Darfur region, noting that they are composed of certain ethnicities, accusing them of lack of neutrality and not representing the Darfur region, declaring their categorical rejection of them.
Also, he harshly criticized West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdallah Abkar and blamed him for arresting their elements for alleged involvement in the tribal conflict in the state.
It is worth mentioning that Tamazuj had been excluded from the joint security forces.
(ST)