Khartoum says no rebel threats in eastern Sudan

October 3, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese presidential assistant denied the existence of military threats posed by rebel groups in the eastern part of the country and stressed that no room to speak about food shortage in that region.

Reports published recently in Khartoum said a dissident faction of the Beja Congress led by Omer Mohamed Taher was massing troops near the border with Eritrea before to launch an attack on the region. The regional opposition group called recently on the Beja to join the armed struggle launched by rebel groups in the Blue Nile, Kordofan and Darfur.

Also the other faction of the Beja Congress, allied to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), stated that the eastern Sudan region is facing a food shortage due to the drought and rise of sorghum prices. “If the government does not do anything to solve the problem in the coming days, there will be a famine in eastern Sudan,” said Salah Barkawin a spokesperson of the regional party in statements to the Agence France Presse.

Presidential assistant, Nafie Ali Nafie who is also the deputy chairman of the ruling party on Tuesday ruled out allegations of famine in the eastern Sudan. He further said that the government took the necessary measures to send additional provisions to the region.

On the other hand, he dismissed reports about a new rebellion in the eastern Sudan saying all thee rumours about fighters massed by the Beja Congress exist only “in the minds and wishes of some opposition forces”.

The Beja Congress and Free Lions group of Rashayda tribe, united in the Eastern Front, signed a peace agreement brokered by Eritrea with the government in October 2006. The Beja took up arms against Khartoum in 1994, citing years of marginalization and underdevelopment.

However the deal was seen, by some rebels, as serving the interests of Asmara more than the interests of eastern Sudan. Omer Mohamed Taher the leader of the opposition Beja Congress also blamed Eritrea for making Musa Mohamed Ahmed the leader of the Eastern Front.

Since the secession of the South Sudan last July, Khartoum is facing growing frustrations in the Sudanese street caused the inflation and the fall of Sudanese pound. The SPLM-N which is fighting the government in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile called for a new alliance for the Sudanese opposition forces to overthrow the regime.

The Beja Congress, the SPLM and Darfur groups besides other democratic forces were working in the past against the NCP regime under the umbrella of the National Democratic Alliance.

(ST)