Minnawi to soon determine when he will return to the Sudanese capital

August 5, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Senior Presidential Assistant and head of Darfur authority will determine next week the date of his return to Khartoum in order to resume his duties, a close announced today.

Minni Minawi left his palace office in the capital since more than two months to join his loyal troops in North Darfur to protest against the ill-implementation of a peace agreement signed with the Sudanese government on May 5, 2006.

At the end of last month, the former rebel leader sent a letter to the President Omer al-Bashir affirming his commitment to the full implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).

Mustafa al-Jameel, information secretary in the Darfur Transitional Authority said today that Minawi is nearing completion of his tour in Darfur where he inspects troops. He further said that the senior assistant will determine next week the date of his return to Khartoum.

Jameel also said that Minawi held a series of meeting to discuss Darfur peace implementation with Rodolphe Adada, the head of the joint peacekeeping mission for Darfur, and General Martin Luther Agwai, the commander of the hybrid peacekeeping force

Different reports from Darfur speak about difference between the former rebel leader and his commanders who criticise his failure to implement the deal and achieve real change in their daily conditions.

Also many of his commanders are still in touch with the rebel groups opposed to the signed agreement and try to persuade them to defect from Minawi and join the rebellion.

(ST)