Former rebel accuses government of breaking Darfur peace deal

September 14, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — A Darfur former rebel group accused that the Sudanese army of breaching a peace deal signed in May 2006. The Sudan Liberation Movement led Minni Minawi said the government forces killed three of its troops.

The Sudanese army and militias undertake since three week a military campaign against the armed movements across the three states of Darfur saying it intend to reestablish security and protect aid convoys.

The attacks were focused on rebel movements in northern and western Darfur, however since last week Minni Minawi a rebel leader turned Senior Presidential Assistant accuse government of targeting his positions.

Minawi today accused the army of attacking his troops based in Kolge, east of Jebel Marra. He further said his troops were forced to fight the government troops on self-defence basis. He was alluding to a ceasefire signed as part of Abuja peace deal.

The Senior Presidential Assistant who quitted his office in Khartoum since three month to protest on the ill-implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement said that Sudanese troops killed three of his men and wounded other 16.

Yesterday the U.S. President Special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson condemned the government army attacks on Minawi troops. He also said the recent attacks appeared to be part of a “pattern of violence under the guise of a law-and-order campaign” by Khartoum.

Mohamed Bashir, the head of Minawi office said the army attacked deliberately their positions because Kolge base is well identified by the government forces.

The Sudanese army relentlessly repeats that it intends to establish government authority in Darfur. It says acting against carjackers and bandits.

Minawi relations with Khartoum deteriorated gradually because the Abuja peace deal failed to restore peace in the country also most of his rebel commanders rejoined the rebellion.

The former rebel leader seems isolated in Darfur. Different reports say he is rejected by the rebel movements. Also some of his close aides remain in Khartoum working with the government.

With the perspectives of new peace talks, Minawi also seeks international support for a role he could play in the after eventual new peace deal.

For many observers Minawi who says committed to the signed peace deal could soon be the head of a new rebel faction but they ask if he could gather people around him.

(ST)