SPLM to negotiate with ruling party of Chad
By Daniel Van Oudenaren
October 25, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — Senior leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) will visit N’Djamena to take part in a “party-to-party initiative” with the ruling party of Chad, said Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, a member of the SPLM National Liberation Council and head of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission in Washington, D.C.
“They invited us actually to have bilateral talks between the two parties. Also, the SPLM will unveil its initiative in Chad to help normalize relations between Chad and Sudan and also to talk to the Chadians to help resolve the issue of Darfur.”
Chad’s ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement faces armed opposition in eastern Chad and repulsed an assault on the capital in February. Both Chad and Sudan have accused each other of supplying rebel armies. Relations deteriorated in May when Sudan held Chad responsible for an attack by the Justice and Equality Movement that reached the outskirts of Sudan’s capital.
Yasser Arman on Oct. 13 revealed contacts between Chadian President Déby and SPLM Chairman Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The SPLM delegation will arrive in Chad’s capital on Sunday, comprised of the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General for Northern Sector Yasser Arman, the Secretary for Political Affairs and Mobilization Abdel Aziz Adam El-Hilu and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. The delegation will continue its visit on Monday and Tuesday, departing Tuesday evening.
Since the signing of a peace agreement in 2005, SPLM is a partner in Sudan’s Government of National Unity with the National Congress Party (NCP), which has ruled Sudan since 1989.
“We have discussed this issue with the National Congress Party, especially Nafi Ali Nafi,” said Gatkuoth, referring to President Omar Al-Bashir’s assistant and the deputy leader of the NCP.
“We have reached an agreement with the National Congress Party that the SPLM will help on the issue of Chad to normalize relations and also for the SPLM to help on the resolution of the Darfur conflict.”
Nafi has asserted that Chad must ameliorate its relations with Sudan first if N’Djamena aims at playing any role in the resolution of Darfur conflict. “We are convinced they can play a positive role particularly with the Justice and Equality Movement,” he told a press conference in Paris on Oct. 7.
Gatkuoth said that the visit to Chad is not related to the “people’s initiative” launched by the government of Sudan to address its concerns about the conflict in Darfur.
“It is an SPLM initiative,” he said, adding, “SPLM was invited by the President of Chad Idriss Déby to discuss bilateral issues between SPLM and the ruling party of Chad.”
Without normalization between Chad and Sudan, the issue of Darfur will not be resolved, said Gatkuoth.
Not everyone agrees that relations between the two governments are so significant for the peace process. “We rejected formally any linkage between the two conflicts,” said Sudan Liberation Movement founder Abdel Wahid Al-Nur on Oct. 12.
Al-Nur described the Darfur conflict as an “internal political problem that resulted in a huge humanitarian crisis,” and referred to the Sudan-Chad crisis as a power struggle between the two previously allied regimes.
“SPLM is concerned with what is happening,” Gatkuoth said about Darfur.
On Thursday, a tripartite committee from Chad, Libya and Sudan agreed for Chad and Sudan to exchange ambassadors in two weeks and hold meetings in N’Djamena on Nov. 15 and Tripoli on Nov. 19. The two sides reiterated their commitment to refrain from providing any support or assistance to the opposition in both countries.
Over 240,000 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad receive food aid through monthly distributions. Until security improves, few will risk returning home. The latest major refugee inflow occurred during February, when over 13,000 individuals fled conflict in West Darfur.
(ST)
Akol Liai Mager
SPLM to negotiate with ruling party of Chad
SPLM needs to consider Safety issues seriously when visiting countries bordering Sudan because we can’t afford another missing plane.
I wish a safe journey for Mr Amuom and his colleagues to Chad and back home.
The Wiseman
SPLM to negotiate with ruling party of Chad
What comes to your mind when you bring out a hungry lion from a crave? It will tend to eat you as its food. If SPLM pulls Darfur out of the death-period, it must be suscepticle for they contend muslim rulers in the north.
First reason!
The Wiseman of Sudan.
Uncle Louish
SPLM to negotiate with ruling party of Chad
Mind of internal relations with other government organs, too!
That’s a good move. To change the political course of this Country, the SPLM is the right party to do that with the NCP nuzzling forward with the old-fashioned politics of bribery which is being ousted by contemporary alongside with modern politics of the understanding Sudan; a Sudan of political diversity, a Sudan of freedom, a Sudan of liberty, a Sudan of justice, a Sudan of equal Citizenship, and of Self-determination.
Show to the Bashir’s and the Cronies that with SPLM nothing is socially, economically, politically, ecologically and psychologically impossible!!
Fata yunkum yal el SPLM
Uncle Louish
Wunashuei
SPLM to negotiate with ruling party of Chad
Dear SPLM is good to have such initiative, but it will also be good to consider the implication of such initiative from your co-partner NCP. NCP is always very skeptical with any political move taken by you (SPLM) they don’t treat it as it for benefit of the country but as an SPLM interest. So the reaction to this initiative will be very high in Khartoum where Chad is seen as country who supports Rebels who rebelling the ruling party (NCP)in Khartoum.
So I’m advising the SPLM to be very cautious in this mission and use Sudan VIP Airline to Chad to block ill-thinking of NCP.
GOD BLESS SPLM!!!