Darfur rebel SLM rejects integration of its forces in the army

April 28, 2006 (ABUJA) — Mahjoub Hussein, spokesman for the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/SLA) in western Sudan Darfur, stressed that the issue of merging the movement’s forces into the Sudanese army or disbanding them is considered “a red line before the interim stage”.

A Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) rebel is seen in the desert west of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, November 8, 2004.

He said that “approaching this line means that the government’s delegation would have to pack its luggage (in Abuja) and go back to Khartoum with no-one regretting its departure”.

In an interview with the London based Al-Hayat conducted with him over the internet, he said that the forces of the Sudan Liberation Movement will fight Al-Qa’idah if it attempted to move to Darfur. Hussein told Bin-Ladin that Darfur “is not Iraq” and that an entry of Al-Qa’idah operatives into Darfur would hasten the deployment of UN forces.

He also spoke about the war in neighbouring Chad saying it has “cast its shadows” over the Darfur peace talks.

Following is the text of the interview.

SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS

– Is there any real progress at the Abuja negotiations?

Hussein: Abuja is still staggering in an ebb-tide of interlinked issues. After four months, the Vice-President of Sudan (Ali Osman Mohamed Taha) has taken over the file instead (of chief government delegate Dr) Majzoub al-Khalifa who failed to run the negotiations. But the efforts are continuing in a bid to narrow the existing gap in viewpoints which is big until this moment and needs more time.

We are not giving away any secrets when we say that the security arrangements file could constitute a real hindrance and could end the negotiations if the government side continued to insist on its view on disarming and disbanding or merging the movement’s army. We consider this a red line.

We will not lay down our arms and we will not decommission our elements before the end of the interim period and the formation of the new Sudanese army. Approaching this line means that they (members of the government delegation) have to pack their luggage and go to Khartoum with nobody regretting their departure.

POWER SHARING

– The joint committee between you in the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Sudanese government is discussing the outstanding issues. Let us ask first about the vice-presidency post?

Hussein: The joint committee came into existence following consultations launched by an initiative by Libyan leader Col Muammar al-Gadhafi who brought the head of the movement, Mini Arkoi Menawi together with the Vice-President Taha at the beginning of last month, in addition to a host of meetings that brought together the head of the movement with the Sudanese vice-president over the past days in Abuja. Thus, the committee has started its work lately and has not achieved any result worth mentioning. The main issues are still the same including the demand (that Darfur gets the post) of the vice-presidency.

– President Omar al-Bashir said lately there will be fresh news coming from Abuja?

Hussein: We, in the SLM/A, believe that there are no indications of an agreement yet, not under the shadow of the governmental intransigence and inflexibility. There are multiple power centres in political decision-making in the Sudan. There are also indications about regional and foreign connections working in line with an agenda dictated by the universal Islamist system from behind the curtain.

– There have been reports about a proposal to give Sharif Harir (prominent Darfurian figure) a position at the presidency establishment while Khalil Ibrahim (of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement) gets the post of Darfur governor, with Mini Arkoi Minawi (Sudan Liberation Movement) taking over the post of governor of Northern Darfur State, Abdelwahed al-Nur (Sudan Liberation Movement) the post of governor of Southern Darfur State, and the position of governor of Western Darfur State given to a figure from the Arab tribes. What is your opinion?

Hussein: Perhaps these are fabrications and trial balloons that are launched but I have never heard about them at all. Actually, they are tantamount to bypassing of all the people of Darfur and represent procrastination and provocation.

– What do you mean by provocation when all the candidates are from the Darfur leaderships?

Hussein: The issue is not that simple. Our cause and crisis in Darfur are not related to persons or to this or that individual. The Darfur people want to ensure their constitutional and legal rights and their right to dignified life while remaining within the framework of the Sudanese state.

AL-QA’IDAH MILITARY OFFER

– Al-Qa’idah leader Osama bin Ladin has gotten involved in the Darfur issue, considering the dispatch of troops by the UN there a crusader war.

Hussein: The call by the Al-Qa’idah leader is absolutely rejected both by the people of Darfur and the Sudanese people. The Al-Qa’idah organization ought to have carefully considered the Sudanese way of thinking and culture in the light of experience, for the Sudanese people have rejected and driven out the Islamic Front for its extremism, and this should apply even more to Al-Qa’idah itself.

We were hoping that he would take up a stand of righteousness and mental, Islamic, humanitarian and Arab courage on the side of the people of Darfur. This statement of his makes it look as though he is against the Muslims in Darfur. Did he not ask himself how many victims have been killed in Darfur and how many human souls sanctified by Allah have been wiped out in Darfur! How many people have migrated, starved and become without shelter!

Was this not done in the name of religion! The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, just like it has fought against the war criminals, will wage war against terrorism, and terrorism will have no place in Darfur. Darfur is not Iraq, and we stress that this bin-Ladin call will speed up the entry of the international force instead of delaying it.

EFFECT OF CHADIAN WAR

– How are the new developments in neighbouring Chad affecting prospects for peace in Darfur?

Hussein: What is happening in Chad has cast its shadows over all peace steps because the Darfur region is linked to the state of Chad from a geostrategic point of view. Chad is a pivotal country that cannot be overlooked at all in any prospective political settlement equation. This has prompted us time and again to warn the Sudanese government against the consequences of getting involved in any act against the state of Chad under the pretext that Chad represents a rear base and supports the Sudan Liberation Movement, the largest of movements that control Darfur because it controls nearly 80 per cent of the region’s territory while the government is concentrated in some big cities only.

– You have said that the movement is in possession of material “documents and evidence” that confirm the involvement of the Sudanese government in the assault on Chadian government Ndjamena.

Hussein: We have informed the Chadian government more than once of material and conclusive evidence we have ever since the Sudanese government started recruiting and backing with arms (Chadian President Idriss Deby’s opponents).

I will head soon to Ndjamena to congratulate President Deby on his victory over the brutal aggression and hand him fresh documents that prove the involvement of the Sudan government and Sudanese intelligence organs in (the attempt) to change the regime in Chad.

(ST)