Darfur’s JEM urges Libyan rebels and NATO to secure the departure of its leader

August 23, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) urged the Libyan rebels and the NATO countries to secure a safe departure of its leader from Libya where he is since over a year.

Khalil Ibrahim has been in Libya since 19 May 2010 when the Chadian authorities refused entry of the rebel leader to Ndjamena on his way back to Darfur, ordering him to return to Tripoli from where he attempted to come to Chad.

Chad at the time had just brokered a framework agreement between JEM and the Sudanese government to reach a negotiated solution for the Darfur conflict. Ndjamena was frustrated by JEM’s decision to suspend the talks and wanted to press the rebel group to resume the peace process.

“We reiterate calling on the new Libyan leaders, the NATO, the UN and other international organisations to work for safe release of President of JEM who has been under involuntary presence in Tripoli since May 2010,” said the rebel group in a statement put out after the control of the Libyan capital by the rebel groups on 22 August.

JEM further said that Khalil’s “detention” in Libya was part of a “regional conspiracy” to isolate its leadership from its base, stressing that it “should not be allowed to continue”.

The Sudanese government tried several times to negotiate the presence of the rebel leader in Tripoli with Libyan officials but the latter refused to move him to another country as Khartoum requested. At the same time he was confined at a military garrison and had restricted contacts.

However, following the start of the Libyan uprising against the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, Sudan accused Libya of recruiting JEM combatants to fight the armed opposition. A matter, that Darfur rebels dismissed and accused Khartoum of stirring up racism against its own citizens present in Libya.

Sudan Armed Forces also deployed troops along the border with Libya to avoid weapons trafficking to the restive region of Darfur which borders Libya.

EXPECTING KHALIL’S RETURN TO DARFUR

After the collapse of Gaddafi’s regime, Sudanese authorities announced the undertaking of security and military measures to reinforce stability throughout the border between North Darfur and Libya’s Kufra region.

The commissioner of Mallit district, North Darfur, Mohamed Osman Ibrahim, on Tuesday stated that they expect JEM rebels to try to secure the return of their leader Khalil Ibrahim to Darfur.

Ibrahim told the pro-Sudanese intelligence service (SMC) that the security forces in the area are able to secure the border with Libya and stop rebels’ attempts to cross to Darfur.

He also underlined that the revolutionaries control the Libyan side of the border and this would help to maintain the stability of the joint border between the two countries.

Khartoum, which has provided discreet support to the Libyan rebels during the past months, yesterday welcomed the military victories achieved by the anti-Gaddafi forces. The Sudanese government also offered help and assistance to the opposition council.

(ST)