Sudanese ex-rebels of eastern Sudan form political party

August 16, 2007 (ASMARA) — Former rebels operating in eastern Sudan have transformed into a political party in line with a peace deal signed with Khartoum last year, an ex-rebel leader turned government advisor said Thursday.

“We have finished creating our constitution and all of us have agreed (to) it, and also approved our structure,” said Amna Dirar, deputy chairwoman of the former Eastern Front rebels.

“Now we can say we are a real political party that can add something to the politics of Sudan.”

Implementation of the deal signed last October in Asmara has been slow with reports of rifts and internal wrangling within the Eastern Front.

But Amna said that the process — although delayed — was on track.

“We have formed the secretariat, a central and a core committee, and also committees in the three states in eastern Sudan,” Amna told AFP in Asmara, adding that the Eritrea-based leaders are expected to return to Sudan later this month.

The Eastern Front was created in 2005 by the Rashidiya Arabs and the region’s largest ethnic group, the Beja.

Under the peace deal, Khartoum is to allocate it a total of 600 million dollars over five years for development.

In May, leading members of the Eastern Front were assigned government posts as part of the implementation of the peace accord, including Amna Dirar, who is now an adviser to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir.

And last month, the rebels wound up relocation to government-run camps, from where they will either return to civilian life or join the Sudanese army or police.

Eastern Front rebels had similar aims as their better-known counterparts in Darfur fighting for greater autonomy and control of natural resources.

(AFP)