SLM rebels says more time needed before joining Darfur peace process
January 24, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur reaffirmed its intention to join the peace process in Doha but said more time is needed to achieve an all-encompassing consultation process.
Last July and after a meeting with the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs in Paris Abdel Wahid pledged to join the peace process. Since more than a month he left the French capital to engage meetings with the members of his group from Nairobi.
Leading members of the rebel group told Sudan Tribune recently that due to logistical reasons the arrival of some delegations had been delayed but expressed hope the process would be achieved soon as over 80% of the sectors were consulted.
Al-Mahmoud said yesterday in Cairo after a meeting with the Arab League Secretary General they were in contact with Abdel-Wahid who informed him about the consultation process. Also Nur reaffirmed his intention to hold a meeting in Paris, according to the minister.
“Peace remains our strategic option and ultimate objective but as a movement with a large popular structure we need more time to accomplish this difficult task,” said SLM-AW spokesperson Nimir Abdel-Rahman.
“We have to consider not only the military component but also, students, women and other mass organizations. We need also to speak with IDPs and refugees that our movement claims to defend their security and rights,” he added.
“This is why our leader remains in contact with the mediators, the Joint Chief Meditor Djibril Bassole and the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, to inform them on the progress of the process we are conducting.”
“On the other hand, we recently sent a letter to the French government about our intention to hold a meeting in Paris as we agreed in the past,” he stressed.
The mediators ended one week trip to Addis Ababa, New York and Cairo to inform the organizations they represent – Union African, United Nations and Arab League — about the latest developments in the peace process.
The Sudanese government rejected rebels’ demand to establish one administrative entity in Darfur instead of the existing three states. Khartoum also withdrew its negotiating delegation and asked the mediation to put out its final draft agreement with the rebel LJM.
Nimir said comprehensive peace process requires to include all the parties to the conflict. He also emphasized that the signing of a peace agreement with a movement without the other groups will not be in the interest of peace.
“Partial peace agreement is not productive and we saw this with Abuja deal,” he said.
Khartoum also said determined to hold another process aiming to resolve the conflict on the basis of direct talks between local stakeholders from civil society, IDPs and refugees, tribal leaders and elected institutions in the region.
The rebel group said opposed to this process and reiterated their support to the Doha process they also warned that this process will be boycotted by IDPs, tribal leaders and might deepen hostilities among the population of the restive region.
(ST)