Darfur JEM hit by new defections

August 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has been rocked witnessed new defections by Kordofan natives citing marginalization by the group leadership.

The ex-JEM representative in North Kordofan Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif told the pro-government Al-Rayaam from Libya that over 700 fighters split ranks with the rebel movement adding that there is work in progress to establish a new entity of theirs.

Al-Sharif said they were part of the JEM delegation that flew to Libya this week meeting with its leader Muammar Gaddafi after which they realized that the “Kordofan cause” had no place in agenda of the rebel movement.

He added that all their efforts to convince JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim to incorporate the issue of Kordofan have failed saying that their presence was a “décor” despite the “high price” that they have paid.

However, a group of Kordofanians in JEM issued a counter statement distancing themselves from the defectors and the claims they made about their marginalization.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the cheap style that they [defectors] justified their retreat and deserting the day of mobilization,” senior figures of Kordofanians at JEM said.

The group emphasized their allegiance to the leadership of JEM and expressed satisfaction towards JEM attention to the issue of Kordofan.

“Our revolution and cause is bigger than one man defecting or a group,”

The move comes as regional countries including Libya and Egypt are working to unite rebel groups to negotiate with Khartoum.

Observers and international mediators have expressed frustrations with the continuous defragmentation of Darfur rebel movements stressing that it is a main cause for a stalled peace process.

(ST)