Darfur figure leaves Sudan, his medical treatment remains uncertain

September 14, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur senior rebel figure, Suleiman Jamous, has arrived today to Nairobi marking the end of his 15 month of confinement at UN hospital in southern Kordofan. However his medical treatment remains uncertain.

Suleiman Jamous was transported in June 2006 to UN Kadoguli military hospital from Darfur. The UN told him he would be four days there, but held him there for 14 months and three weeks after the opposition of Khartoum which described him as criminal and said it would arrest him if he left U.N. hospital.

Sudanese president has instructed to give the necessary authorisations in order to facilitate his departure last week following a meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during his recent visit to Sudan.

However, Sudan Tribune has learnt that the UN has refused him access to UN medical facilities in Kenya. Jamous may go to Chad if he fails to find the necessary money to perform the medical examination in Kenya.

UN doctors since eight months said that Jamous needs a stomach biopsy which could not be performed in the U.N. hospital in Kadugli.

Jamous now has to try to find money, and a hospital, to do what needs to be done.

“Not a great record by the UN,” said a Western observer. He further regretted that “The international community wants his help with the peace process, but no-one so far has offered to help him with his health.”

Jamous’s support is seen as vital to the success of new peace talks between the government and the Darfur rebels which are due to open in Libya on 27 October.

Before leaving Kadoguli, Jamous spoke lengthily to Sudan Tribune about the expectations of the international community to play a role in the rebels’ reunification and the resolution of the four years conflict.

He renewed his commitment to do his possible to end the suffering of Darfur people.

He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to all those how worked and requested his release from his virtual prison in Kadugli.

At the end of last July in a letter sent to Sudanese president prominent international personalities and human activists urged the Sudanese president to release Suleiman Jamous. The signatories of this letter are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mia Farrow, Juan Mendez, Richard Holbrooke, Vaclav Havel, Chibli Mallat, Jody Williams, Alex de Waal, Julie Flint and Bahey El-Din Hassan.

(ST)