Darfur rebel leader denies his expulsion by French authorities
December 10, 2007 (PARIS) — The founder leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement denied statements by Sudanese officials that France would expel him because of his refusal to joint peace process in Libya.
Abdelwahid al-Nur told the Sudan Tribune that he didn’t receive any notification from the French government requesting him to leave Paris. He added that despite the divergence over his participation in Sirte talks the French officials showed respect to his point of view over the peace process.
Abdelwahid refuses to participate in the African Union- United Nations mediated talks to end the four-year conflict. He demands that Sudanese government stops attack against Darfur civilians, the deployment of the international peacekeeping force and the disarmament of the government backed militias.
The influential rebel leader reminded Khartoum he is a political leader of well organised structure and even he is killed this would not change the position of Darfur people and the SLM towards the peace talks.
“My position is reflecting the position of the ordinary people of Darfur and every one knows that.” He added.
He asserted he is a freedom fighter “to be in France or elsewhere has nothing with my position and this also will not change the position of Darfur people towards the government.”
Al-Nur urged Khartoum government, instead of requesting France to expel him, to provide the necessary commodities for the deployment of the international troops and to respect human rights and citizenship rights in the country.
Last May during the campaign for the presidential election, the candidate Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to impose immediate and unilateral sanctions against Khartoum. He also proposed to impose heavy sanctions against the Sudanese government under the authority of UN Chapter seven.
The candidate Sarkozy also signed a commitment proposed by The Collectif Urgence Darfour to act for the vote by the UN Security Council of a resolution under Chapter seven of the UN Charter to impose effective protection of civilians in Darfur with Khartoum consent or not. .
The Collectif Urgence Darfur is a coalition of 120 French organizations and works since three years to raise awareness about the ongoing atrocities in Darfur and to mobilize French public to the human tragedy in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.
Jacky Mamou the president of the collectif told Sudan Tribune he was “shocked” by news about this probable expulsion. He said “disappointed to see president Sarkozy, who had pledged a policy of rupture, set back to the policy of indulgence with the Islamist regime of Khartoum.”
He further said he hopes that the French president didn’t forget his commitment towards the Collectif.
Some humanitarian organisations working in Darfur camps said such decision may ignite violence against French nationals working on the ground. However others aid workers said they expect Al-Nur supporters in the camps would make a difference between them and the French authorities.
(ST)