Internal divisions within Darfur rebel SLA threaten peace talks- report
ABUJA, Nigeria, June 26, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese radio said today that the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) has issued a statement announcing it does not recognize the movement’s representative at the talks, Abdelwahid Mohamed Nur.
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Mani Arku Mannawi, SLA secretary-general. |
The statement, bearing names of members of a faction loyal to Mani Arku Mannawi, SLA secretary-general, said that the SLA had no links with its chief negotiator.
The African Union [AU] expressed concern over the reckless internal divisions within the armed groups in Darfur, which it said would have a negative effect on the negotiation process.
The Sudan Liberation Army has issued a statement in which it announced lack of recognition for anyone representing it at the talks. Referring to the movement’s leader, Abdelwahid Mohamed Nur, the statement, issued by a group loyal to Mani Arku Mannawi and signed by Abdel Jabbar Mahmoud Dosa, said members of the faction was the bona fide representatives of the movement.
The statement, a copy of which was received by the radio, stressed that the movement would not recognize any arrangement entered into with a party not legally representing the movement, neither would it undertake crucial measures and operations in the coming days, so that the general interest of the people of Darfur could be safeguarded.
The SLA said it would communicate to Al-Ray al-Amm (a Sudanese dailt newspaper) every new developments that arose. In one of its paragraphs, the lengthy statement said it wanted cooperation and consultation with the movement’s chief mediator to stop, adding that continuing to do so would contravene the rules and laid-down regulations.
In this regard, the African Union (AU) brought the split to the table and was now trying to resolve the situation. It will be remembered the split, first within the Justice and Equality Movement and now serious one within the SLA, is considered a major obstacle for the AU mediators at the peace talks.