Sudan’s Kiir to Asmara on 15 July for talks with Darfur rebels

July 10, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The first vice-president Lt-Gen Salvia Kiir Mayardit, is expected to visit Asmara, next Saturday to hold talks with leaders of a Darfur rebel group recently created.

Salav Kiir will meet on Saturday 15 July the leaders of the National Redemption Front (NRF) in a bid to persuade them to join the African Union mediated Darfur Peace Agreement signed 5 Mat between Khartoum and one rebel faction.

The NRF is founded on 30 June by the Justice and Equality Movement, the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance and a dissident faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Khamis Abdalla Abakr.

Unconfirmed reports say the foundation of the NFR is facilitated by the Eritrean government in an attempt to push them to negotiate with Khartoum. But, Abdelwahid al-Nur, the leader of a faction of the SLM refused to adhere. But a dissident stream of SLM-Minawi is expected to joint this new Darfur alliance soon.

Darfur holdout rebels repeat that they committed a big mistake when they negotiated in different groups with the Sudanese government during Abuja talks.

Head of Organizational Affairs at the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) Abdellah Jabir last week said that the holdout rebels asked to meet the Sudanese First Vice President and Khartoum was informed about this request.

The NRF attacked the town of Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan province on Monday 3 July; twelve people were killed, including two women.

(ST)