SLM founder calls on rebel factions to reunite
July 28, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The founder of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdel Wahid al-Nur addressed a call to all the SLM/A factions urging them to reunite under the Umbrella of the movement.
Speaking from Washington, the rebel chief urged all the SLM factions to come together “Time of unity has come. It is high time for us to gather and settle our differences what ever the reason was,” he added.
“We should leave our divergences behind and sit together guided by the objectives of the movement and the five years of agony and suffering of our families and relatives,” he further said.
Al-Nur said Darfur people will not forgive “our divisions and quarrels while they continue to suffer on daily basis in the camps of displaced and refugees or exposed to attacks carried out by the government forces and its militias.”
“United we can defend the rights of our people in peace or in war” he added.
Further Abdel Wahid welcomed calls by some rebel commanders for the unification of the SLM.
Last week three rebel factions withdrawn from the United Resistance Front (URF), a rebel coalition sponsored by the United Nations after three month talks in Juba. Among the splinter factions Khamis Abakr who is the former SLM Vice-President.
Ali Shaggor, one of leading members in a splinter faction, told Sudan Tribune they intend to work for the reunification of the SLM groups. He also added they want to contact with the SLM chief Abdel-Wahid al-Nur.
Al-Nur had refused last year to take part in attempts conducted by international or Sudanese parties to find common grounds between the different groups. However, he had called on “friends of Darfur people” to facilitate the organisation of a meeting for the leading members and commanders of the movement.
Troubles within the SLM started after the dissidence of Minni Minawi, the former secretary general of the unified SLM in November 2005. However, the fragmentation of the rebel movement increased after the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement between the Sudanese government and SLM-Minawi in May 2006.
The SLM founder, who also calls for a secular state in the Sudan, urged the different political and social forces in the country to work together for the establishment of a democratic state in Sudan where all “the forces of change” work together to achieve justice and development on equal basis.
Many political analysts agree that a SLM reunification conference could be the way forward to reach peace in Darfur. The former African Union and United Nations envoys for Darfur had failed to reunite the rebel factions because they were accused of being one of causes of the divisions among rebels after the peace agreement.
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Henry Makuei
SLM founder calls on rebel factions to reunite
Maburuk sir Abdel Whahid al-Nur, your words smells Dr. Garang’s words of unifiying southerners and claim their rights with one voice as it was stated by the SPLM/A leadership during the split of SPLM/A in 1991 that ‘unity is a stength’, for sure unity is a strength ‘if we were not united we would have not reach here’ said Madam Rebecca, so if Dafur are not united they they can not achieve what SPLM/A have achieved. I comment alot on Minawi present in Khartoum as of know progress to achieve peace in Darfur it is like what southerners used to do during stuggle by signing uncomprehensive peace and later on violeted because it was not a complete peace agreement. this is the right time for Dafur rebels to unite and work together for the betterment of their people. please immitate SPLM/A policy of struggle and you realise the suceess.
Moses Kur Akech
SLM founder calls on rebel factions to reunite
Unity is the only way to achieve the wanted freedom whether through democratic process or martial means. Not only can unity bring democracy to Darfurians but to all of the marginalised people of Sudan.
Being in multiple factions has been a major setback to successfully quell aggression against Darfur people. I hope the past SLM attack against Khartoum would have been so significant had all the rebel factions joined their hands together. I cannot figure out why would people fighting for the very common objective (freedom) split to multiple groups. I think the paradoxical motive behind the split is a desire for leadership; everyone wants to be a chairman which is so ridiculous and undecisive. This is the obvious problem with my fellow Sudanese. The philosophical ideology of the ‘first born’ being the first in the leadership is the very awkward and irrational belief. It does not make sense to say I was the first one to rebel thus I should lead the movement while your are not truly talented to lead. Give way to your brother or sister who can inspire people to change to the better way. This pandemic has been crippling SPLA/M struggle all along their Journey to freedom even in the times when they were in the brink of success. But not everybody who is talented with leadership skills, people are innately talented with various abilities to perform distinct tasks.
I strongly believe that this is the right time for all marginalised ones to come together and find common platform to oust the dictatorial regime and restore democracy for the contemporary and future generations. I think there is a delicate chance to win next year if SPLA/M and all of the Darfur rebel factions unite together and select a very strong candidate for the sake of getting ride of this regime. The victory cannot happen simply because our leaders do not give way to those who can charismatically inspire people. Secondly, some of our leaders do not prioritise the best interest of the public.