Rebel group says to be ready for Darfur peace talks in December
November 2, 2007 (PARIS) — Sudan Liberation Movement Unity Command (SLM-Unity) said today it will participate in the peace talks, however the group said needing one month to achieve reunification process.
“We hope to finish this [reunification process] within this month and then we will attend the peace talks in anywhere, and if the international community wants to proceed in Libya we do not care.” Jamous said.
The SLM-Unity on October 23, demanded the postponement of Sirte talks in order to give rebel groups more time to allow realise reunification talks they had started with other rebel groups in Juba. Also, in a joint statement with Justice and Equality Movement the two movements said that the mediation had failed to identify parties to the talks.
JEM actually boycott the talks because a dissident rebel group JEM Collective Leadership is invited to attend the AU-UN mediated peace talks. The two groups also said they want to be associated to the talks preparations.
But Jamous said Saturday they will attend the talks in early December whether the other groups participate or not. “If no one comes to the peace talks except us we will go.” Jamous told RFI.
Unconfirmed reports say that the SLM-Unity is engaged in talks with three groups to form one rebel group.
Further the group has become very attractive for the troops of the current Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Minawi, who signed a peace deal with Khartoum in May 2006. Twenty commanders from Minawi group joined the SLM-Unity last week.
Negotiations between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels have been postponed until December, while delegates from the AU-UN mediation left Sirte to meet rebel leaders who boycotted the talks.
The mediators say they invited all rebel groups so that talks were as inclusive possible to try to end over four years of fighting that have killed more than 200,000 people and chased 2.5 million from their homes.
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Manyang
Rebel group says to be ready for Darfur peace talks in December
Dear Darfur leaders, you have to unite and say one thing with one voice for the interests of your people.
Never walk alone on such paths of critical moments where contentious issues of political affairs of the nation are at stake and longing to be ironed out concertedly or otherwise you perhaps be caught in disunity thus Mr.Bashir will absolutely strangle you one by one to death. Watch out! Learn from the past of our tyrant master’s agreements and please join hands with SPLM and the rest of the parties that are pursuing a just course for their peoples’ welfare.
Manyang Rwei Gach
Greater Yirol -South Sudan