Darfur’s Abdelshafi, Diraij agree to unify political efforts

July 6, 2007 (LONDON) — The Sudan Liberation Movement of Ahmed Abdelshafi and the Sudan federal Democratic Alliance of Ahmed Diraij have agreed to conjugate their political, diplomatic and negotiating efforts, a press release said today.

The two groups announced, after a meeting held in London, they would continue “the dialogue with all groups from other marginalized areas in Sudan and with all Sudanese political groups willing to create a new Sudan based on new foundation of peace, democracy and development.”

(ST)

Below the text of the joint MOU :

Faithful to our aims to unify all parties and to eliminate divisions and disagreements…And in view of our common values of struggle to fulfill the aspirations of the Sudanese people in general and Darfur people in particular… And with reference to the dire humanitarian conditions in Darfur… And considering the deteriorating security conditions in Darfur and being keen of the safety of war affected persons, especially the IDPs and refugees… And on the basis of the responsibilities of the current phase of struggle… We the undersigned have agreed on the following:

To unify all political, diplomatic and negotiating efforts, with due consideration for all other options;

To eliminate all aspects of disunity and fragmentation in the Darfur society with a view to circumvent the Khartoum regime policies of “Divide and Rule” and to unify all Darfur opposition groups with the purpose of reaching an agreement that would fulfill the aspirations of the Sudanese people in general and the Darfur people in particular;

To continue the dialogue with all groups from other marginalized areas in Sudan and with all Sudanese political groups willing to create a new Sudan based on new foundation of peace, democracy and development;

To solve the problems of the refugees and internally displaced persons and to give top priority to their just demands for security and compensation (material, moral, etc), to find solutions to problems of land tenure, to disarm the janjaweed militia and to guarantee safe return of the IDPs and refugees back to their original homeland;

To emphasize the need for a speedy execution of all international resolutions regarding Darfur, particularly those relating to the deployment of the UN peacekeeping forces in Darfur, as well as prosecuting those who are accused of committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur;

To welcome the role of the UN and the AU as mediators to resolve the Sudanese conflict in Darfur, in cooperation with all concerned parties;

Finally, we call upon all Sudanese military, political and civil society forces to join the unity process, so that together we can bring peace, security and stability to our country.

Ahmed Abdelshafi Toba, Chairman Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Diraig, Chairman

Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance

Issued in London, England on this seventh day of July, 2007.