SLM-al-Nur reverses course, joins regional efforts to end Sudanese conflict

July 5, 2024 (KAMPALA) – The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, announced its participation in the Cairo and Addis Ababa meetings organized by the Egyptian government and the African Union (AU) to end the Sudanese crisis.

In a brief statement released on Friday, SLM spokesperson Mohamed Abdel Rahman al-Nayer confirmed the movement’s participation in the meetings “to discuss the situation in Sudan, stopping the war, and address the humanitarian issues that the Sudanese people are experiencing as a result of the April 15 war.”

This participation marks a significant reversal of the SLM’s previous stance against engaging in political processes to end the Darfur conflict or the political crisis in Sudan.

The Egyptian government is hosting a meeting for political and civil forces in Cairo on July 6th and 7th, while the AU has organized separate meetings in Addis Ababa from July 10th to 15th.

However, the two initiatives have faced criticism for their lack of coordination and inclusivity.

Also, these concurrent efforts to initiate dialogue and find solutions to the ongoing conflict have sparked controversy due to the individual format of the invitations, leaving some groups feeling excluded.

Several uninvited political forces, notably the SLM faction led by Mustafa Tambour, expressed reservations about the Cairo conference organized by the Egyptian foreign ministry . They urged political forces to unite and prioritize dialogue within Sudan.

For their part, the Revolutionary Democratic Current, led by Yasir Arman, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, have refused to participate in the Cairo meeting.

Furthermore, the AU’s invitation to Amira al-Fadil, a leading figure of the banned National Congress Party (NCP) associated with former President al-Bashir, to a women’s conference in Kampala sparked outrage. Al-Fadil was ultimately forced to withdraw from the meeting due to the participants’ rejection.

Sudanese political forces widely oppose the NCP’s involvement in the post-war transitional phase, fearing their potential to obstruct the establishment of a secular state. However, the AU remains committed to inclusivity, seeking the participation of all political factions in the peace process.