Two rebel leaders sign alliance pact, vow to bring down Bashir’s regime
May 14, 2011 (NAIROBI) — Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Minni Minnawi, the leaders of the two main groups of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) signed today an alliance pact to overthrow the regime of President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and to build a democratic regime in Sudan.
Al-Nur who is the founder of the rebel SLM released last April a statement dubbed the “New Beginning” stating that Sudanese problems including Darfur conflict can only be resolved through the establishment of a secular and democratic state in Sudan.
He called on the Sudanese political and military forces to merge, ally or coordinate with his group for a regime change in Sudan. Since last week two splinter groups reintegrated the group, SLM Unity Juba and Revolutionary Democratic Forces Front (RDFF), also Ibrahim Babker Al-Nur, a rebel commander from Darfur announced he rejoined the SLM-AW.
“Today agreement is a another step towards the reunification of all the armed movements in Darfur in the near future,” said Nimir Abdel Rahman, SLM official spokesperson. He further stressed that unity is “a fundamental condition to achieve legitimate inspirations of Darfur people for security justice and development”.
He added that further SLM factions will announce their reintegration to the group. Reports say three rebel factions would rejoin Al-Nur: SLM factions led by Khamis Abdalla Abakar, former SLM deputy chairman, Abul Gassim El-Haj fomer west Darfur governor, Abdalla Yahia of the SLM unity.
Minnawi who at the time controlled the military wing of the SLM splinted in November 2005 and signed a peace agreement in Abuja with the Sudanese government on 5 May 2006. Other dissident factions in the group appeared after. Mainly led by angered commanders, the breakaway factions refused the disunity of the movement and the peace deal.
SLM -Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Khalil Ibrahim which refused Abuja peace agreement were the military target of the Sudanese army and militias. The former senior presidential assistant returned rebel last year after accusing Khartoum of dishonoring the Darfur Peace Agreement.
Hafiz Yousif, SLM-Nur political secretary, said his Movement believes that all the Sudanese forces have to join hands to remove this regime because it is the cause of injustice and suffering not only in Darfur but in the whole country.
“The New Beginning remains the last hope for the Sudanese people towards the regime change in the country,” Hazif said.
“The plight of Darfur people is caused by the violence and lack of security perpetuated by the regime and its militias,” emphasized the spokesperson Nimir reaffirming that the national scope would allow a viable a solution for the eight year conflict in Western Sudan.
Nimir further urged the international community to not support the ongoing efforts for a “partial solution” that would only complicate the solution of Darfur conflict, he said .
The rebel official was alluding to the Doha talks where the Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM) and the Sudanese government said ready to sign an agreement.
(ST)