SPLM delegation in South Darfur to prepare Salva Kiir’s visit
Feb 25, 2007 (NYALA) — A delegation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement visits South Darfur state to discuss ways to realize peace in the troubled region with the different political forces and to prepare for the visit of the First Vice President to darfur.
The head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement’s (SPLM) northern sector, Yasir Arman, has announced that the First Vice-President Salva Kiir Mayardit will visit Darfur within the next few days, for the first time.
Arman told reporters in Nyala yesterday that the SPLM was serious about meeting the different forces representing the people of Darfur in order to achieve peace, justice and democratic change and to maintain human rights standards. He further described Salva Kiir’s visit to Darfur as historic and said it was a tremendous opportunity to address the sides of the crisis in the region.
During his two-day visit, Arman will be meeting ruling and opposition political forces and some tribal leaders. Arman at the end of his visit will launch an initiative to unify Darfur movements. He will further look into SPLM organizational problems in the region and means to activate partnership with the [ruling] National Congress party.
The SPLM leadership prepares to hold a meeting in Yei, in Central Equatoria, for the different Darfur rebel groups opposed to the Darfur peace deal signed between Khartoum and one rebel faction last May.
The objective of this meting, in which the leader o the SPLM shall participate, is to elaborate a common ground between the holdout rebels in order to negotiate with Khartoum.
Since last week Libya and Eritrea have succeed to regroup the rebel factions member of the National Redemption Front and one faction of the SLM in Tripoli where they debate to formulate their position paper fro the talks with Khartoum.
After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement there was great expectations that the SPLM would play an important role in the resolution of Darfur crisis, as it was promised by the late John Garang. But since, the SPLM was busy by its problems with the ruling party.
(ST)