Sudanese army says JEM leader on Darfur border

September 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army stated today that Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader, Khalil Ibrahim is on the border of Darfur region without giving further details.

The rebel leader returned to the Darfur region last Sunday after remaining for more than a year in Libya. The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) deployed troops on the Libyan-Sudanese border but Khalil successfully sneaked back into the troubled region.

“Khalil Ibrahim is at a location called Beir Sendi on the border of Darfur region,” said Alsoarmi Khaled, SAF spokesperson, in statements to the Khartoum based Al-Intibaha newspaper.

The military spokesperson did not give more details about the position. However, North Darfur governor Osman Mohamed Youssef Kibir said JEM leader is in an area called Wadi Howar (Howar Valley) near the border with Chad.

Sudanese officials are confident that Chad is no longer supporting the JEM leader. Khalil despite hostile statements addressed against Khartoum said he wants a “just” peace in Darfur. He also said Chad can play a positive role in this respect.

Alsoarmi said the presence of JEM’d leader in this area makes him an easy target for the Sudanese army. While governor Kibir told reporters that Khalil had started to gather his fighters.

JEM refused to sign the Doha Darfur Peace Document (DDPD) and demands to open the framework text for direct talks. However the Sudanese government rejected the request and gave the rebel group three months to sign it.

However international efforts are exerted to bring the two parties to the negotiating table for more talks. The US special envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman intends to gather all the Sudanese parties of the conflict in Washington at the end of the month.

(ST)