Darfur JEM says commanders defect from Minnawi group
December 16, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced today that a number of commanders joined their ranks after defecting from the former rebel group that signed a peace agreement with Khartoum.
According to JEM the defectors included deputy commander in chief Bakheit Karima, chief of staff Arcu Suleiman Dohya and a 400 other rebel officers whose.
The rebel group claimed that the commanders also brought their arms and 400 vehicles with them.
JEM welcomed the newcomers and stressed that moving through the leadership ranks is contingent upon “willingness to sacrifice for the cause”.
“The leadership of JEM is open to any viable opinions that will push the political and military struggle forward” the rebel group said.
This is not the first time senior officials desert from Minnawi’s faction. More than a year ago twenty of Minnawi’s rebel commanders joined the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement Unity Command (SLM-Unity).
At the time some of Minnawi’s aides told Sudan Tribune that lack of financial support prompted the defections after Khartoum did not provide the money to the former rebels.
The defectors blamed Minnawi for human rights violations and negligence of the implementation of the peace agreement.
The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in May 2006 between the Sudanese government and Minnawi’s faction has failed to stem the violence.
Minnawi left Khartoum this year to Darfur for a few months and only returned after signing an agreement with Sudan 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha promising to implement the DPA.
(ST)