Darfur rebel group leader warns against “disintegration of Sudan”
Darfur rebel group leader warns against “disintegration of Sudan”
BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom
Published: Jul 07, 2006
Text of report on interview with Ahmad Ibrahim Durayj head of the rebel National Redemption Front in Darfur, by Fayiz al-Shaykh al-Salik published London-based newspaper Al-Hayat on 6 July
Ahmad Ibrahim Durayj, head of the rebel National Redemption Front in Darfur, has affirmed the readiness of his front, which rejects the Abuja peace accord, to negotiate. However, in an interview with Al-Hayat, he stressed the need for “reopening the dialogue” since “time has proven the failure of Abuja.” He regarded the military operation carried out by his front a few days ago in North Kordofan as “retaliation and self-defence.” He warned against “the disintegration of Sudan.” The text of the interview follows:
[Al-Salik] Why did you establish the National Redemption Front?
[Durayj] First, Darfur is now at a crossroads. The international community wants peace and the [Sudanese] government is refusing to achieve it. Second, Sudan is in a crisis. There are wars in the east as there were wars in the south and the west. The international community proposed a solution to the Darfur issue through the African Union. What the AU has done has become unacceptable to most people of Darfur and the armed movements, including those who participated in the Abuja dialogue. They reached the conclusion that the agreement will not solve the problem, but would further complicate it. The Darfur problem is part of the Sudanese problem. It is a crisis of identity and a conflict between Arabs and Africans, Muslims and Christians. The crisis is about whether there should be a central government or not and about the parties facing injustice. We established this front for these reasons.
[Al-Salik] The name of the front means radical change. Do you favour a radical change of the regime?
[Durayj] The country needs salvation. There are wars in the east and west and armed movements in the extreme north. Therefore, if the rulers do not learn the lesson, all Sudan would collapse as a state. Sudan might disintegrate. We must seek salvation from ruin. We must get rid of the regime and its policies. The salvation we are seeking could take place in two ways. The first is for those in authority to return to their senses, recognize the existence of a crisis, and try to solve this historic crisis. The second way is through confrontation and clash. Either the government would destroy the others or the people would defeat it and agree on building a new Sudan.
[Al-Salik] What method do you prefer?
[Durayj] Let us begin with the best and less costly method, which is dialogue and negotiations to spare us losses in life and property. However, if the regime persists in its arrogance, there will be a limit and end to patience.
[Al-Salik] You have called on all the political forces to join your front. Have any of them responded?
[Durayj] It is still too early. Our front was formed a week or less ago. We left the door open. We have not established the executive and leadership frameworks yet.
[Al-Salik] What about Abd-al-Wahid Muhammad Nur (leader of the faction in the Sudan Liberation Movement that rejects the Abuja accord)?
[Durayj] He has some reservations, and he has the right to have them.
[Al-Salik] Do your attacks in Kordofan mean that you have abandoned the cease-fire?
[Durayj] The government has not abided by the cease-fire. Antonov aircraft have not ceased flying over Darfur for a single day. What happened was retaliation and self-defence.
[Al-Salik] What is the alternative to the Abuja accord?
[Durayj] After evaluating the experience of the African Union, we found out that it has not succeeded in solving any conflict. In Darfur, the African Union has admitted its weakness because of financial problems and the absence of a UN mandate to protect the civilians. It is futile to insist that it should maintain its presence. The alternative is for UN forces to reinforce the African Union or for the United Nations to intervene to protect the civilians.
[Al-Salik] Our question is about negotiations.
[Durayj] We support any party that can seriously deal with the crisis. There are countries like Eritrea that took charge of the east file. Libya tried before. Other countries like Slovenia have similar experiences.
[Al-Salik] Does this mean that you are ready and really want negotiations?
[Durayj] Definitely. After the failure of the Abuja accord, we are calling for the reopening of dialogue based on the declaration of principles that we announced. Experience has shown that most wars ended through dialogue and negotiations.
Source: Al-Hayat, London, in Arabic 7 Jul 06