Darfur rebels’ merger puts talks at the crossroad – analyst

Jan 22, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The merger of the two main rebel groups in war-torn Darfur could simplify peace talks but also rebels could harden their position in the talks and complicate peace process, analysts say.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Minawi Arkowi faction (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced on Friday 20 January that they had agreed to join forces, establishing the Alliance of Revolutionary Forces of West Sudan.

African Union officials trying to mediate an end to the Darfur conflict have repeatedly urged unity among the rebels, saying this would facilitate peace negotiations with the government and expedite a solution.

The Sudanese government has also complained that by presenting conflicting demands at the negotiating table, the rebel groups and splinter factions were hampering efforts to end the conflict.

But SLM Abdelwahed al-Nour faction issued Saturday 21 January a press statement, saying it is not concerned by this merger. People from SLM-Nour faction said what is happened is an alliance between Zagawa ethnic groups in Darfur with the Zagawa regime in N’Djamena.

The AU, which has been leading the Darfur peace negotiations in the Nigerian capital Abuja, said it had not been officially informed about the rebel merger.

“The AU is yet to get any official document that the SLM and JEM have merged to form an alliance,” AU spokesman at the Abuja talks, Noureddine Mezni, said on Saturday.

Sudanese deputy top negotiator Mohamed Youcef Abdullah reacted negatively saying such merger would complicate the current negotiations

Sudanese political analyst and Darfur expert Mohammed Mahjub Harun said: “It is positive and necessary.”

The SLM and JEM said the “union will strengthen the solidarity, cohesion and unity of the people of Sudan in general and that of the west in particular.”

It will also “further strengthen the position of the armed movements in (peace) negotiations” under way in Abuja, they said in a press statement.

Harun noted that with the rebel merger the government will face “a single group with one agenda”.

More important, explained Sudanese political analyst Abdullah Adam Kheir, was the fact the Mani Arko Minawi, who has been engaged in a power struggle with SLM leader Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nur, was now on board.

In fact, the agreement uniting the two groups was signed on behalf of JEM by its leader, Ibrahim Khalil, and for the SLM by Minawi himself.

Nour has been on good terms with JEM before and since Minawi tried to unseat him from the leadership of the SLM last year and his faction signed a memorandum of understanding with JEM that Minawi had opposed.

“Minawi was out of the agreement,” Kheir said.

“We have set up this union in the interests of the people of Darfur,” Khalil told reporters after the signing of the deal.

Some have expressed concern that the rebels could use their newfound unity to harden positions at the negotiating table, especially because the alliance will significantly boost their fighting power, but Kheir disagreed.

“Unity among the rebel groups would serve the interest of peace. It will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the negotiations,” Kheir said.

He added that in his opinion, the deal was more of a “political rather than military alliance.”

Observers say this merger could reinforce the position of SLM-Nour because many Darfurians will see the two movements (JEM and SLM-Minawi) leaded by two Zagawas. Nour would play the card of diversity and good representation of different ethnic groups in the western Sudan.

(ST)