Darfur SLM says committed only to 2004 ceasefire deal
April 15, 2007 (LONDON) — The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) announced that it is committed only to a ceasefire agreement signed in 2004. The holdout rebel group requests the African Union to not impose provisions of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) ceasefire protocol on its representative.
In a letter addressed to the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the SLM led by Abdelwahild al-Nur said that the mandate of its representative in the Ceasefire Commission “is restricted and limited only to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement which signed in N’djamena , Chad on 8th April 2004 and the Protocols of the enhancement of the security and humanitarian situations which signed in Abuja –Nigeria on 9th of November 2004.”
The rebel group, opposed to the DPA, said not concerned by the Enhanced Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement (EHCA) which is part and parcel of the 5 May 2006 peace deal between the Sudanese government and a SLM faction led by Minni Minawi.
The EHCA is elaborated in order to settle the conflict and to allow implementation of the security arrangements in the DPA. The enhanced ceasefire is designed to enable the disarmament of the Khartoum backed militia and also establishes assembly areas for the rebel groups.
The SLM asked the AU to suspend its participation in the ceasefire commission and to transport its representative to an area controlled by the group if they insist on the implementation of the provisions of enhanced ceasefire of Darfur peace deal.
According to the ceasefire agreement of 2004, the SLM of Abdelwahid al-Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement of Khalil Ibrahim participate in the ceasefire commission located in the capital of North Darfur, Al-Fasher, with the Sudanese government and the AU.
After the signing of the DPA, the Sudanese government rejected the presence of the representative of the non-signatories rebel groups in the commission but the AU maintained their participation trying to uphold the shaky security situation.
The 4-year-old conflict between local rebels and the Sudanese government in Darfur has left more than 200,000 dead and 2.5 million homeless.
(ST)
Below the text of a letter sent by the SLM to African Union’s Peace and Security Council
Date: 11/04/07
Ref: FL/SLM/201
From: Sudan Liberation Movement/Army
To: African Union’s Peace and Security Council
Subject: The Mandate of the representatives of the Movement working with AU in Ceasefire Commission (CFC)
Dear Sir,
Regarding the above mentioned subject the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army , However , would like to clarify to the African Union the following :-
1. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army under the leadership of the founder and Chairman of the Movement Mr. Abdul Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Alnour (which is Non signatory of what so called DPA , which signed in Abuja on 5th may 2006) and accordingly , the mandate of all it’s representatives working with the African Union in the ceasefire commission (CFC) is restricted and limited only to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement which signed in N’djamena , Chad on 8th April 2004 and the Protocols of the enhancement of the security and humanitarian situations which signed in Abuja –Nigeria on 9th of November 2004 and therefore , their mandate has nothing to do with the implementation of DPA or anything in relation to the agreement.
2. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) is kindly requesting the African Union to restrict the dealing with the representative of the Movement according to the mentioned agreement and not the Darfur peace Agreement (DPA), and if that is not possible the African Union, However has the right to fire or suspend the participation of members of the Movement, provided that they will be taken back to their places in the liberated areas.
3. The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, However, would like to seize this opportunity to renew its full commitment to the implementation of the ceasefire agreement which signed in N’djamena –Chad on 8th of April 2004 and the protocols of the enhancement of the security and humanitarian situations which signed in Abuja on 9th of November 2004.
Thanks,
Issued on 11th of April 2007
Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Yousif,
Head of the Office of the Chairman of Sudan Liberation Movement/Army