JEM wants int’l community to relocate its leader from Libya

February 28, 2011 (PARIS) – The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has urged the international community to move its leader from Libya where a popular uprising has swept through towns close to Tripoli. .

Khalil Ibrahim has been residing in the Libyan capital since May 2010 after being barred entry to Chad following JEM’s withdrawal from the Doha-sponsored peace talks.

The increasingly isolated leader Muammar Gaddafi refuses to step down and vowed to die as martyr. The anti-government forces said they are equally determined to overthrow the regime and are reportedly mobilizing to move into Tripoli.

“We are very worried for the safety of our leader in Tripoli, and we call upon the international community to evacuate him for the sake of the peace in Darfur,” said JEM Legislative Council speaker Al-Tahir Al-Faki from Paris on Monday.

Faki further told Sudan Tribune, that they met French officials to urge them to assist in efforts to move him outside Libya. Ibrahim has lived in France several years back.

The senior rebel official said that JEM was prepared to resume talks with the Sudanese government in Doha, as several members of the negotiating team were heading to the peace venue.

He also said they would discuss the issue with the Joint Chief Mediator Dijibril Bassole who will be in the French capital today where he will hold a press conference on the peace process.

The mediation handed a number of proposals to end the deadlock in the peace talks between the government and the rebel Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM). However, a copy of the compromise was also delivered to JEM delegation.

JEM said ready to resume talks with Sudanese government but ask for direct talks, as Khartoum seeks to privilege another process inside the country based on direct dialogue among tribal leaders, civil society groups and elected institutions.

Last week, Sudanese officials said Darfur rebels were among the mercenaries recruited by the Libyan regime to quell the popular insurgency against Gaddafi. Sudanese nationals in different parts of Libya have reportedly hid in their homes fearing that they may be accused of supporting the regime.

Faki termed as “irresponsible” the statements made in Khartoum stressing they put at risk the lives of the Sudanese in Libya including Khalil Ibrahim.

He also said they have to move JEM leader out of Libya now because they fear that Sudanese government agents may try to take advantage of the chaos there to assassinate or kidnap him.

Sudanese returning to the country told the Sudan’s official news agency, SUNA that the situation in Tripoli is very bad and getting worse. They also said weapons are now in the hands of civilians and foreign mercenaries.

Yesterday the Sudanese government opened the border with the neighboring Libya to facilitate the return of Sudanese workers from the troubled country.

Sudan had decided to close the border seven months ago after failing to convince Libya to expel JEM’s leader to another country far from the region. At the time reports said Burkina Faso had agreed to receive him.

(ST)