Ruling party says Darfur JEM tries to obstruct peace in eastern Sudan
May 5, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The deputy leader of the ruling National Congress (NC) Nafei Ali Nafei, has accused the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), which is fighting the government in western Sudan, of striving to hinder the serious steps taken to end the problem of the east.
He further accused JEM of striving to impede the development of Sudanese-Eritrean ties.
Nafei said JEM press statements were motivated by political agendas and incentives that were not related to the issue of Darfur.
He further condemned the highway robbery committed by JEM on the Port Sudan [eastern Sudan] road and said this act had hindered peace and development and its perpetrators were striving to torpedo eastern talks.
The Sudanese army said have repulsed Darfur rebels’ robbery attempt on eastern Sudan highway Tuesday 2 May evening.
On 12 April a joint force of Eastern Front and Darfur JEM attacked two government-held towns Wagar and Nete in Kassala State near the Eritrean border. Eleven civilians and two attackers died in the raid.
Nafi stressed that JEM had no justification to fight in Darfur, let alone in eastern Sudan.
The rebel JEM of Khalil Ibrahim, a former member of the National Islamic Front is suspected of being the instrument of Islamist Hassan al-Tuarbi in his power straggle against his ex-disciple Omar al-Bashir.
The government last year accused JEM of playing a central role, along with leaders of Turabi’s Popular Congress party, in an alleged plot to overthrow al-Bashir.
(ST)