SLM-MM rebels support US decision to keep Sudan on terrorist list
June 26, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) has declared its support to the US administration’s decision to keep Sudan’s name on the list of the state sponsors of terrorism.
On 19 June, the US State Department released the 2014 terrorism report maintaining Sudan’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism and mentioning the existence of certain terrorist groups in the country as well as links between Khartoum and some of these organizations.
SLM-MM external relations official, Trayo Ahmed Ali, criticized a statement issued by Sudan’s foreign ministry attacking the US administration for maintaining Sudan’s name on the terrorist list, describing it as “repetition of lies”.
In a statement on Friday, he added that the foreign ministry’s statement didn’t explain the nature of what it called the claims and allegation upon which the US based its decision to keep Sudan’s name on the list.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s foreign ministry expressed regret over the American decision to keep Sudan on the list of the state sponsors of terrorism, describing the move as “double standards”.
Ali said the SLM-MM praises the US decision and considers it a “daring and successful move”, stressing that Sudan is largely involved in terrorism activities in terms of funding, training, harbouring and arming.
The rebel official accused the Sudanese government of continuing the war against civilians in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile, pointing to the daily use of forbidden cluster bombs besides preventing humanitarian access to the affected areas and hindering the work of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting rebel groups in Darfur including the SLM-MM since 2003.
The SLM-MM spokesperson added the government continues to recruit and train militias to terrorise its citizens, noting it also refuses to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to achieve justice and stability.
He said that Khartoum represents a serious threat to the regional security particularly the situation in Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, Uganda and South Sudan.
Ali pointed out that the people in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile paid heavy price for quarter a century due to the policies of the current regime.
He noted that the international community particularly the neighbouring countries have not spared the crimes of the Sudanese government, stressing the regime is not interested in achieving peace and security in Sudan.
The statement further appealed to the international community to follow suit on the US move and to deal with the Sudanese regime as a criminal regime that must be removed.
The east African country has also been subject to comprehensive economic sanctions since 1997 over terrorism charges and human right abuses. Further sanctions, particularly on weapons, have been imposed since the 2003 outbreak of violence in the western Sudan region of Darfur.
Despite intense lobbying by Khartoum, the US administration kept Sudan on the terrorism list drawing frustration and rebuke from Sudanese officials.
(ST)