Minawi suspends SLM Secretary General

October 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minawi has suspended its secretary general, Mustafa Teirab form his position saying he had freezed the secretariat of the party and disregarded the executive body of his movement.

The decision comes one week after Minawi return to the capital after four months of absence in Darfur to protest the ill-implementation of Darfur Peace Agreement signed with the Sudanese government in May 2006.

The decision said Teirab, who is also state minister for federal affairs ministry, meant to commit intentional wrongdoing in order to disrupt the march of the movement and prevent it from achieving its targets.

Yesterday decision is considered as retaliation of the criticism professed by his close aide to Minawi’s move to stay in the western Sudan region abandoning his office in the presidential palace.

Minawi appointed Hassan, Dossa to replace Teirap until the end of the investigation.

The Vice President of the movement, Rayah Mahmoud Juma and Teirab had blamed Minwawi also for taking decision without consultations with the party leadership.

Minawi is the sole former rebel chief to sign a peace agreement with the government to end Darfur conflict, however many of his commanders and political carders didn’t follow him to Khartoum.

Teirab, who was in a first stage opposed to the DPA, backed Minawi and helped him to dissuade others from rejoining the rebellion in 2006. But, he also was accused by others of serving the interests of the ruling National Congress Party.

(ST)