JEM acknowledges defection of two rebel commanders
May 23, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Saturday admitted the defection of two commanders who joined the ranks of a splinter faction signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) led by Bakheit Dabajo.
JEP political secretary, Nahar Ahmed Nahar, announced that two members of his party : Tijani al-Tahir Karshoum and Ahmed Adam Abdel-Majid arrived to Khartoum in good health together with defector rebel commanders Hasabo Suleiman Hasabo and Abdallah Hassan Abdallah.
Nahar said the two prisoners and two defectors fled from South Sudan on 11 May after JEM defeat in South Darfur battle by the end of last April. He added that they were received by the border guards when they arrived to Abu Matareq area in Esat Darfur state and then transferred to Khartoum by the security service.
Reached by Sudan Tribune, JEM spokesperson Gibreel Adam Bilal confirmed the defection of the two commanders, but said that the formers prisoners escaped from the Movement’s camps in Kordofan and not in South Sudan as it is claimed.
Bilal further minimized the impact of their defection, stressing that they would not deviate from their path.
“We also learned that they joined Dabajo group and this is normal. The Justice and Equality Movement will not be affected by the defection of one or two or even all those who are tired of the struggle and wanted to get out of the movement. We have no objection at all and they can directly join the National Congress (Party),” he said.
“The revolution will continue and will never stop,” he added.
Following clashes in the Chad-Sudan border area in May 2013, JEM detained 17 commanders who had defected under the leader of Mohamed Bashar and signed a peace agreement with Khartoum government.
Bashar and his deputy Arko Dahia were killed and since their group is led by Bakheit Dabajo.
Nahar said their party would hold a press conference on the situation of their comrades detained by the JEM.
(ST)