Sudan’s Taha meets one of Darfur rebel SLA leaders

April 10, 2006 (ABUJA) — The Second Vice-President, Ali Osman Taha, today met one of the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Mani Arkoi Minawi, at his residence in Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The Sudanese ambassador to Nigeria, Abdelhamid Abdin, said that the meeting came as a follow-up to a previous one recently held in Tripoli, Libya last March.

He said that Taha had told Minawi that what they discussed in Tripoli had received full interest from the Sudanese leadership after he informed them about the meeting.

On Sunday 9 April, Taha met Abdelwhaed al-Nur the leader of the other faction of the SLM.

The ambassador said that the first vice-president listened to the compressive and general view about the SLM’s stance with regard to the Darfur issue and its vision on how to find a comprehensive peace agreement.

He said that during the visit, Taha said he went to Abuja chairing a delegation representing the Government of National Unity which has united views for a comprehensive solution in Darfur, as well as pushing the Abuja talks ahead.

Abdin said that Ali told Minawi he would continue to hold talks with all the parties that are in Abuja, the official SUNA reported.

He said Minawi told the vice-president that his movement was committed to the unity of Sudan and to reaching peace, adding that it was a movement of unity. Minawi denied that it was racist or tribalistic movement.

The ambassador described the meeting between Taha and Minawi as positive and amiable. They decided to continue consultations and meetings.

(ST)