Sudan’s rebels elect Malik Agar leader of their alliance

February 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Malik Agar, chairman of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) is elected president of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), an alliance of four rebel groups formally established in November 2011.

The rebel alliance released on Monday a press statement saying Agar was elected after a series of meeting for the leadership of the four groups in the areas held by the rebel SPLM-N in South Kordofan.

The leaders of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Gibril Ibrahim and the two factions of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Minni Minnawi have been designated the SRF’s vice-presidents.

Abu Elgasim Imam al-Haj, of the SLM-AW who is appointed official spokesperson of the rebel alliance.

Sudan Tribune learnt that Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, SPLM-N deputy chairman, is chosen commander in chief of SRF joint military units.

The election of Agar and Hilu to the two leading political and military positions is explained by the failure of Darfur rebels to agree on who among them could fill the posts.

Gibril Ibrahim was proposed to take the SRF presidency but the other two Darfuri groups objected this choice, sources told Sudan Tribune.

Last August after the untimely announcement of Koda alliance between the SPLM and the two SLM factions, Yasir Arman, SPLM Secretary general, intervened to say talks are still going and that was not a final alliance pact. He also stressed that JEM is part of the process.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim is tasked as vice-president with foreign relations and humanitarian affairs, Abdel Wahed al-Nur as vice-president is responsible for political and regulatory affairs while Minni Minnawi is in charge of finance and administrative affairs.

The rebel alliance calls for the overthrow of the Sudanese government through political and military means. The members of the SRF say that as the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) refuses to come political settlement it has become a major obstacle for Sudan’s stability.

However, the major Sudanese opposition forces distanced themselves from the SRF and called for a negotiated solution saying more blood puts the integrity of the country at risk.

The NCP accuses Juba of supporting the alliance saying it uses it to get more concessions in the difficult talks on the pending issues, including Abyei, between the two sides since the independence of the South Sudan.

Khartoum also accuses Hassan al-Turabi’s party, Popular Congress Party and the Communist Party of working with the rebel alliance to overthrow the regime but the two political forces say the NCP launches such accusations to confiscate fundamental freedoms.

(ST)