EXCLUSIVE: Darfur new rebel group announces formation of its structure

March 2, 2010 (DOHA) – The Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), formed by ten rebel groups on Tuesday February 23, announced today in Doha the names of its executive bureau and other bodies, ahead of talks with the Sudanese government on a framework agreement.

The establishment of the new rebel group had been announced hours before the signing of a framework agreement including a temporary ceasefire between the Sudanese government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in a ceremony attended by the President Omer Al- Bashir, Idriss Deby of Chad, Isaias Afewerki of Eretria and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

At the time only the name of El-Tigani El-Sissi was announced as President of LJM which implies the dissolution of all the faction members in the new movement.

Darfur’s JEM, during one month of talks attempted to persuade these rebel factions to join its ranks but the former Tripoli and Addis Ababa groups said they accept only coordination.

In the composition released Tuesday in Doha, the former leader of the United Resistance Front (URF) Bahr Idriss Abu Garda is appointed Secretary General of the LJM, while Ali Abdallah Karbino is Commander in Chief of the military organization and Ali Mukhtar Ali, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The head of the rebel group, El-Sissi will be joined by five vice presidents who form the Supreme Council for the presidency.

Abdel Aziz Abu Namousha and Haider Qalokuma Atim are named Vice-Presidents without portfolios while Mahgoub Hussein is appointed Vice-President for Political Affairs, Abdel Majid Abdel Rahman Dossa Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Yacob Adam Saad Al-Nur is Vice-President for Administration and Management.

The LJM secretary is composed of 27 officials including Hashim Hamad Abdel-Rahman, as Deputy Secretary General, Sharif Jarelnabi Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mokhtar Abdel Karim Adam, Secretary of Political Affairs, Taj al-Din Bashir Nyam Secretary to Negotiations Affairs, Ibrahim Issa Muhajir, Secretary of Organization and Management, Bakhit Mohammed Khamis Secretary of Finance and Abdallah Moussa Morsal, Secretary of Information.

The new rebel group also named Ahmad Badawi Ismail as speaker of the Central Liberation Council, the parliament of the LJM and Mohamed Ibrahim Braima is the Vice-Chief of Justice.

The LJM held consultations with the mediation on a draft framework agreement they should sign with Khartoum during the upcoming days while JEM has pledged in the deal signed last month to finalize a peace deal before March 15.

However, angered by the establishment of the rebel LJM, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has threatened to withdraw its delegation from the ongoing talks with the Sudanese government over the implementation of the ceasefire.

JEM says this group has no representation in Darfur and does not have military presence on the ground. But the LJM says it is resolved to pursue its preparations expressing its readiness to hold direct talks with the government.

Also, JEM accused the government of violating the truce asking to stop military operations in Jebel Marra against the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) who refuses to join the peace process unless the government stops violence against civilians in Darfur.

(ST)