Darfur JEM leader tours Europe to explain positions

August 31, 2006 — Dr. Khalil Ibrahim of JEM/NRF is currently locked in wide tour of Europe. The tour so far has covered Norway, Germany, France and Belgium. In his visits to these countries, Dr. Ibrahim was able to brief his hosts, both governmental and non-governmental on the latest development in Darfur following the signing of the defunct PDA.

“The wide refusal of the PDA across Darfur and the Sudan has led to the formation of the National Redemption Front (NRF). PDA signatories have been unable recommend the PDA to Darfur people because it is rejected across the board”, Dr. Ibrahim says.

He further urged governments and NGOs in the countries he visited to explain this fact to the international community and avoid being part of the problem by adopting a failed agreement.

“Minnawi and his forces have no presence in Darfur. Three Darfur Movement factions have now joined the NRF:

SLM group led by Ahmed Abdel Shafay, (previously belong to Mr. Nur’s SLM)
A group led by Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim (Ex-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Minnawi’s SLM) and
SLM group led by Khamees Abbaker (Ex-Deputy SLM, Nur’s faction)
The international community must take a note of this new reality and act accordingly before it is too late”.

Dr. Ibrahim adds: “In addition to these three groups (above) and JEM, the NRF also includes the Federal Group of Dr. Harir and the Federal Democratic Movement of Sayed Dreig. Kush Movement as well as others from Kordofan have also come to the NRF.

The NRF is now in control over Darfur. The popular misconception that Minnawi-SLM is strong and is dominant in Darfur is simply based on false knowledge and is not supported by facts on the ground. The government knows this and the international community is gradually getting to recognise this fact as well”, Dr. Ibrahim says.

“Military and political realities in Darfur now are very much different compared to what it prevailed in April 2004 when we signed the N’djamena Ceasefire Agreement. The PDA must be amended or completely rewritten. In the absence of that, the NRF has no choice but to change the political regime in the Sudan altogether. The international community must realise that this is not simply the position of JEM or the NRF; rather, it is shared by all Sudanese people. It is also the same position that is supported by Sudanese political parties, in and outside the Sudan. This position represents a clear rejection of the PDA. It is the will of a nation and as such, it should be respected not suppressed”, Dr. Ibrahim concludes.

By Abdullahi El-Tom: [email protected]