Darfur commanders dismiss al-Nur from the SLM leadership

July 31, 2006 (PARIS) — Military commanders of Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdelwahid al-Nur dismissed Abdelwahid al-Nur from the leadership of the movement, a press release said.

32 leaders of the SLM Military Council and the Field Command in a meeting held on 25 July in undisclosed place in Sudan’s Darfur region removed the SLM historical leader Abdelwahid Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur.

The press statement didn’t give further details on the motivations of this decision. However, Sudan Tribune has learned that Abdelwahid is criticised for his lack consultations and contacts with the leadership of the movement inside the Sudan and particularly with the military command in Darfur.

Abdelwahid’s detractors say he didn’t act correctly with the African Union and the international community to explain the position of the SLM. They add that the movement lost a lot politically because of Abdelwahed bad leadership.

The military commanders designed Ahmed Abdelshafi Yagoub Baasi as a new chairman of the movement. They tasked him to reorganize the structure of the movement within 75 hours.

Baasi is the chief commander of the movement.

Different sources from the movement told Sudan Tribune that this move expresses the main stream within the movement. According to ST sources the new body is disposed to negotiate with the Sudanese government and to join the Darfur Peace Agreement.

Sudanese government softened its position towards Abdelwahid group after the signing of the 5 may deal hopping to persuade Abdelwahid biggest tribe in Darfur to join the deal.

Below the full text of the Press release

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Based on the meeting of the Military Council and the Field Command on Tuesday 25/7/2006; the following decisions were reached :-
– Removal of Abdelwahid Mohamed Ahmed al-Nur from the Presidency of SLM/A
– Appointment of commander Ahmed Abdelshafi Yagoub Baasi as president of the movement and commander in chief of the army
– The new president of the movement and general commander in consultation with the military council must reorganize the structure of the movement within the next 72 hours following the publication of this statement
– The new leadership must immediately take charge of SLM affairs until the general conference of the movement takes place.

We call upon the Sudanese people and Darfur people specially and SLM followers in the displaced citizens & refugee camps, villages and cities to rest assured that the new leadership and the field command will protect the rights of Darfur people and the rights of all Sudanese, and of the revolution

May all our martyrs rest in peace and our wounded gain their health.

Glory to our Sudanese people and our people in Darfur.

Signitories

1. Commander/ Ahmed Abdel Shafi Yagoub Baasi
2. C/ Al Haj Younis Abakar
3. Ustaz Babikir Abdalla Mohamed
4. C/ Abdou Abdalla Ismail
5. C/Abdel Basit Abdalla Abdel Gabbar
6. C/Abdel Aziz Mohamed Goumaa (Danforth)
7. C/Ahmed Siraj
8. C/Abou El Gasim Imam El Haj
9. C/Nasr El Din Torou
10. C/Ismail Karokoya
11. C/ Abdalla Abbakar Mohamed
12. Ustaz Mohei El Din Abdalla Abdel Gabbar
13. C/ Yagoub Abdalla Ali Sumbo
14. C/ Omer Mohamed
15. C/Ismail Abdalla (Abou Digin)
16. C/ Abdalla Al Sudani
17. C/ Adam Hassan
18. Dr. El Sanousi Mohamed El Sanousi
19. C/ Adam Younis
20. C/ Omer Tabra
21. C/ Yehia Karkaweel
22. C/ Mohamed Abdelrahim
23. C/ Osman Mohamed Ali
24. C/ Adam Abdalla
25. C/ Adam Ali
26. C/ Ismael Gevara
27. C/ Mohamed Yagoub
28. C/ Mohamed El Tahir
29. Ustaz Abdel Latif Abdalla Ismail
30. Engineer Moustapha Eisa Moustapha
31. C/ El Hadi Idris
32. Ustaz Mohamed Abdou

Contact Numbers:

C/ Ahmed Abdel Shafei Yagoub Basi Satellite No 008821651131140,
Ustaz Babikir Mohamed Abdalla 008821633341564,
Ustaz Mohei El Din Abdalla Abdel Gabbar 008821621344601,
Ustaz Abdel Latif Abdalla Ismail Mobile Tel 00447850380180

(ST)