Governors of Sudan’s flashpoints hold security meeting

September 22, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – Local officials in Sudan’s war-hit states of South Kordofan and Darfur held a meeting on Thursday and called for boosting security apparatus to encounter threats of rebel groups, according to state media reports.

Governors and state security committees in South Kordofan and the three states that make up the western region of Darfur converged in Al-Fashir, the state capital of North Darfur State, and discussed recommendations aimed at enhancing coordination between the four states on a number of agendas, including security affairs.

The two regions share borders and are the scene of operations by armed groups sharing similar grievances against the Sudanese government.

An eight-year armed conflict in Darfur remains unresolved despite the signing of a peace agreement in July between the Sudanese government and one rebel faction. Other rebel groups boycotted the deal and vowed continuation of resistance.

South Kordofan has recently plunged into an episode of violence after the Sudanese government moved to disarm fighters of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) who were aligned with the newly independent state of South Sudan.

Rebel groups in both regions have recently forged an alliance to coordinate military efforts. Each of the SPLM-N and Darfur’s Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) signed an alliance agreement in Kauda town in South Kordofan and vowed to work together for the downfall of the government in Khartoum.

The meeting of the regions’ governors in Al-Fashir recommended that the threats of the armed groups which signed Kauda agreement be taken seriously.

According to a report carried by Sudan’s official news agency SUNA, the meeting’s recommendation included instructions to supply security and military apparatus with whatever needed to enable them to carry out their duty against the rebels.

(ST)