SPLM-N warns against threat of Islamist groups in Africa

May 18, 2014 (PARIS) – The secretary-general of the rebel SPLM-N, Yasir Arman, has warned against Islamist militant groups and the growing threat they pose for peaceful coexistence and political stability on the African continent.

Arman who was in Paris where African leaders held a summit for security in Nigeria to discuss a joint action against Boko Haram terrorist group told Sudan Tribune that “Khartoum remains one of the important centers for spawning Islamist and Jihadist elements in Africa”.

He said that the recent arrest of Aminu Sadiq, a member of Bako Haram involved in a deadly bomb explosion in the Nigerian capital Abuja last April, was not a coincidence because the International University of Africa is a main center to form the Islamists and extremists in the continent.

The British-born Nigerian who was arrested last Tuesday by the Sudanese police is studying Arabic at the International African University in Khartoum from where he travelled to Nigeria several times since last year.

The SPLM-N secretary-general and chief negotiator further mentioned the death sentence for apostasy against a Sudanese woman, saying there is no difference between this case and the kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls by the Nigerian group.

The SPLM-N which fights the government army since nearly 3 years in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states is calling to not involve religion in politics.

In a peace process brokered by the African Union, the rebel group calls to hold comprehensive talks ensure democratic transition in the country and refuses to negotiate a separate peace deal for the Two Areas.

The Sudanese government and the SPLM-N are expected to meet before the end of this month to resume discussions over a framework agreement before to engage in negotiations.

Arman said the current political situation in the country and the lack of a conducive environment do not encourage them to participate in a political dialogue the government proposes to hold inside the country.

“We will not participate in the national dialogue under the current political climate particularly because of the atrocities and war crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Darfur and the Two Areas, bloody repression against university students, death sentence against Dr Miriam and the arrest of Sadiq Al-Mahdi,” he said.

(ST)