Unity of the SLM must be prior to Darfur peace talks – rebel leader
Dec 4, 2006 (AMESTERDAM) — A Darfur rebel leader stressed that the unity of different factions of their group constitutes the main goal for the coming days. He further said no negotiations before realization of unity.
Ahmed Abdelshafi Bassey, one of the SLM leaders, told Sudan Tribune that preparations are going on to reunite the different factions of the SLM. Bassey who was speaking from Amsterdam, said the unity of the movement should be prior to talks with the Sudanese government.
“We could not start talks with Khartoum before the organization of a general conference of all the Sudan Liberation Movement factions. With one voice we will be stronger” Bassey said.
Preparations are underway to hold the field commanders meeting, then that will be followed by holding a general convention for all sections of the SLM to include IDPs, refugees, civil society organizations, women groups, students and youth, he said.
“This is why we have to move very quickly towards the holding of this conference”
Bassey was in Rome where he met Isam al-Haj, a former leading member of Minawi faction but he and others like Ibrahim Ahemd Irahim the former political advisor of Minawi have rejected Abuja agreement.
Politically, al-Haj represents field commanders who were with Minawi before the signing.
The two leaders agreed to accelerate the reunification of the group, and to coordinate their political positions.
Nonetheless, the field commanders from the different SLM factions on the ground are working together even they coordinate their actions with the National Redemption Front (NRF) commanders.
The dissidence within the SLM started with Hasskanita conference where Minawi created in October 2005 a faction mainly from the Zaggawah ethnic group. He was followed in December 2005 by Khamis Abdalla Abakr, a massalit ethnic leader. Bassey is the first leader from the Fur ethnic group to challenge Adelwahid al-Nur leadership.
Al-Nur and Bassey have the same base and are working with the same field commanders. Analysts expect that these commanders could play a major role on the unity of the group.
(ST)