Sudan’s Senior Presidential Assistant denies defection to Chad

June 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Senior Presidential Assistant, Minni Arcua Minawi denied reports about his defection to Chad and affirmed he will soon return to Khartoum from Darfur were he visited Refugee camps.

Informed source told Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena that he met with Minawi who was expressed anger “in very harsh language” at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) for not implementing the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Minawi managed to slip into Chad despite refusal by Khartoum to let him visit” the source said.

However, the Sudanese official denied in a statement to Al-Ray Al-Aam his travel to Chad affirming that he was in Kamoa near Karnoyi after visiting displaced camps in remote areas of North Darfur.

He further said he was in the border area for sorting out some problems. “I will return in a few days to conduct my duties in Khartoum soon.” Minawi said.

The former rebel warned of attempts made to create a crisis between him and the government and added:

Minawi who is the only former rebel leader to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) with the Sudanese government in Abuja on 5 May 2006, expressed repeatedly frustrations and criticized Khartoum for not implementing the peace agreement.

Different rumors circulate from time to time about contacts conducted by Minawi with the non-signatory rebel movements. Nonetheless, the former rebel seems isolated among these groups.

Most of his former partisans formed the Sudan Liberation Movement Unity-Command, others like his political adviser Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim jointed a SLM faction led Ahmed Abdel-Shafi.

Following an attack against the Sudanese government in Khartoum last May, Security Services arrested some of his movement without informing him about the cause of the detention.

(ST)