UN plane briefly held by Darfur SLM rebels

November 5, 2009 (PARIS) – The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur seized briefly a UN plane in Jabal Marra, when they mistook a UNAMID delegation for a delegation sent by US envoy to prepare a conference for rival rebel factions.

A number of Darfur rebel factions supported by the US envoy to Sudan Scott Gration is planning to hold a unity conference in Jabal Mara North Darfur. Last month, Libya proposed to hold the unity meeting in Kufra, an oasis in Southeastern Libya, but the rebels declined the proposal.

President Obama envoy however pledged to support this unity meeting inside Darfur as he had agreed with the rebels in Addis Ababa last August. After failing to deliver Darfur main rebel groups to the Doha process, Gration relations with JEM and SLM-AW gradually deteriorated and he lost any leverage on them.

The SLM-AW earlier this week warned the US envoy to stay far from their controlled territories. In a statement they released on November 3 they said that “any suspicious moves in our controlled areas will not be allowed and will be considered as a direct interference in the Movements’ affairs.”

Nimir Mohammad Abdel Rahman, SLM military spokesperson told Sudan Tribune they captured on Wednesday a UN helicopter that landed in Diraybat in northern Jabal Mara mistaking a delegation from UNAMID and UNICEF for a team sent by Gration to prepare for a conference he intends to organize in their territory.

“We seized the plane for three hours and released them. After verification we found all the members of team were from UNAMID and UNICIF who came in assessment mission in the area.”

Nimir further blamed the UNAMID for not informing them about the flight.

The SLM leader Abdel Wahid Al Nur stressed in statements to Sudan Tribune that if any party attempts to venture into their controlled areas “we cannot be held responsible for the consequences”.

(ST)