SLM-Nur expands control to several areas in Darfur to protect civilians: official
September 23, 2023(EL FASHER ) – The Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur (SLM-AW), announced that its fighters control multiple areas outside Jebel Marra, including the Tawila locality, situated approximately 60 km El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
The forces of this holdout group, which had declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities after the collapse of the former regime, are stationed within Jebel Marra, a rugged mountainous region spanning several states in the Darfur area.
Mujib al-Rahman Mohamed al-Zubair, the head of civil authority in SLM-AW controlled territories, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the withdrawal of government forces from Tawila west of El-Fasher compelled them to deploy their troops to ensure the safety of civilians affected by the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces.
“One of the most significant actions taken by the Movement was the repatriation of those displaced by the conflict to Tawila. We have also taken measures to secure the region and have appealed to the United Nations and its agencies to supply vital lifesaving relief, as well as educational resources, given the significant number of school-age children,” al-Zubair stated.
Tawila had experienced violent clashes following the outbreak of hostilities between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April in Khartoum.
Al-Zubair disclosed that SLM-AW has gained control over various areas in Darfur, encompassing Tawila, Martal, Al-Aradib, Al-Ashra, Sortony, and Tibira in North Darfur state, as well as Kadner, Kankoro in South Darfur state, and Katrom, Sabanga, Barqa, and Rofta in Central Darfur state.
Another holdout group, the SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has leveraged the Sudanese army’s conflict with the RSF to expand its influence over several positions in South Kordofan, citing the need to protect civilians from potential RSF attacks.
The five-month fighting between the army and the RSF has resulted in numerous civilian casualties in Darfur and the displacement of hundreds of thousands both within and outside the region.
It’s worth noting that SLM-AW rejects all peace agreements, including the Juba Peace Agreement of October 2020.
Al-Zubair elaborated on the Movement’s reasons for rejecting the Juba Peace Agreement, asserting that it failed to establish comprehensive peace, security, or stability for Sudan and its people. He emphasized that the agreement primarily focuses on power-sharing while overlooking critical security, stability, and development issues.
“Peace is a sentiment experienced within an individual before it becomes a decision or agreement. The Juba agreement is the most unfavourable among these agreements as it has contributed to the country’s current turmoil,” he declared.
He reaffirmed the group’s commitment to its vision of peace, grounded in Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue encompassing the nation’s political, social, and religious factions and groups, with the sole exception being the banned National Congress Party of the deposed regime.
(ST)