Libyan leader receives delegation from Sudan’s Rashayda
Oct 4, 2005 (TRIPOLI) — Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi received Monday a delegation from al-Rashayda tribe in eastern Sudan.
The Sudanese tribesmen came to congratulate the Leader on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of great al- Fatah Revolution and the 6th anniversary of Sirte Declaration, the Libyan media said.
They expressed to the Leader their appreciation of his constant efforts to resolve the Darfur problem and to ensure peace and stability in the Sudan as a whole.
It is not clear whether this delegation from the opposition Eastern Front of Beja and Rashayda or came from the Khartoum government controlled side.
The purpose of the visit could be to initiate a Libyan mediation between Sudanese government and the rebel eastern Front.
The Beja Congress took up arms against Khartoum in 1994, citing years of marginalization and underdevelopment. It was followed into conflict by insurgent Free Lions group of Rashayda. The two groups merged in the Eastern Front last February 2005.
Like the rebels in Darfur and former insurgents in south Sudan, the Eastern Front also says it is fighting against neglect and discrimination against the outlying regions from central government in Khartoum.
The Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), says it has sent members to fight alongside the Eastern Front, despite a ceasefire agreement with Khartoum.
Analysts say eastern Sudan could become the next battleground in Africa’s largest country, where the Darfur conflict has brought international condemnation and a 21-year-old war in the south only ended a few months’ ago.
(ST)