Thursday, December 19, 2024

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Abdelshafi of SLM appoints advisor for foreign relations

February 07, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The chairman and commander-in-chief of one of the Darfur splinter groups of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, Ahmed Abdelshafi Toba, has named Mayik Ayii Deng as special advisor for foreign relations.

Mayik Ayii Deng, appointed by the Darfur rebel Ahmed Abdel Shafi as Advisor to the SLM/A for External Affairs
Mayik Ayii Deng, appointed by the Darfur rebel Ahmed Abdel Shafi as Advisor to the SLM/A for External Affairs
The SLM faction led by Ahmed Abdelshafi Toba is a member of the Addis Ababa Group, which comprises Darfur rebels who declared political unity at a conference in the Ethiopian capital in August last year.

The written decree appointing the official, seen by Sudan Tribune, cited Abdelshafi’s powers of appointment under a 2007 constitution adopted by the rebel faction. The order, issued February 2, made Mayik Ayii Deng the Advisor to the SLM/A for External Affairs effective immediately. He was in Juba, South Sudan, at the time of his appointment.

“I will lobby for any possible support for unification of the Darfur rebel factions as well support humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced persons, mostly women, children and elderly people in the area,” the advisor said in an interview.

Mayik Ayii Deng also said he applauded the decision appointing him to serve Darfur in this capacity and promised to do anything possible to bring peace and stability to the war ravaged region of Darfur. He said will knock at all doors of humanitarian communities and sympathizers to increase efforts on campaign for lasting peace in the region.

The official however commented that given the interrelated nature of Sudan’s multiple crises, the state of the Darfur peace process should be considered as an indicator of the overall process in Sudan.

He said, notwithstanding the fact that the ruling National Congress has stated that it is willing to negotiate, it has failed to adhere to multiple commitments in Darfur and the current process lacks the credibility needed to attract all parties to the table.

“The international community and other western worlds such as America, the United Kingdom and Canada, to name but a few, should therefore without hesitation initiate a viable process and press the Sudanese government, rebel groups, and key civil society actors to come to the table and negotiate in good faith,” he said.

He said he is committed to lobby a way forward for the Darfur peace process that calls for the United States and others to work with the joint United Nations/African Union mediation team to put forward a common framework for a peace agreement.

He further reiterated that he will exert efforts to unify various rebel movements and the need to allow independent civil society groups to reach broad consensus on a position for negotiations.

Credible and independent civil society groups should be allowed to freely participate in the peace process without obstruction of their travel or right to assemble, he said. Partly this may have been a reference to a planned conference last year for Darfur civil society groups, arranged by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which was cancelled because the government obstructed participants’ travel to the event.

(ST)

7 Comments

  • Dinka Boy
    Dinka Boy

    Abdelshafi of the SLM appoints special advisor for foreign relations
    Good luck Mayik Ayii Deng.

    Reply
  • murlescrewed
    murlescrewed

    Abdelshafi of SLM appoints advisor for foreign relations
    This is a commendable move by the SLM-Abdel Shafi. They must keep the international community engaged in the Darfur crisis and pursue unity talks with other factions so that they become stronger. If anything can be learned from the SPLM split in 1991, it is that marginalized forces cannot win unless they stay united. TRAITORS in 1991 fell for the NIF trick and split from the Movement but when they regain their sanity, they crawled back and were accepted by their brothers.

    Reply
  • Joseph Ibinadem
    Joseph Ibinadem

    Abdelshafi of SLM appoints advisor for foreign relations
    Yes I gree Mayik can be a good advisor for Darfurian and other parties relation.and that is true, Dinka man has a good reasoning capacity to bring peace to Dafur because they are not foodlover.go a head mr mayik Ayii.

    Man of peace.

    Reply
  • Aturjok
    Aturjok

    Abdelshafi of SLM appoints advisor for foreign relations
    Very enormous task, but good luck to Mr. Deng. I think the most important thing Darfurians must first and foremost do is their unification if they are to be heard.

    Reply
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *