Darfur rebel group denies initiating Jebel Marra clashes

February 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Movement- Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) condemned a statement by the U.S. State Department saying that the rebel group initiated attacks on the government troops in Darfur area of Jebel Marra.

In a press statement Thursday, the US States Department spokesperson, John Kirby, said the “United States is deeply concerned about the increased violence against civilians and the grave humanitarian situation in and around Jebel Marra, Darfur”.

”Initial attacks by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid opposition group on Sudanese armed forces prompted a response by Sudan’s military that included aerial bombardments despite the UN Security Council demand that Sudan cease offensive military flights over Darfur,”. Kibry further said.

In a communiqué issued on Saturday, the rebel group strongly rejected the “the baseless and unfounded accusations” saying it is “clear and unambiguous act” of “give the victim a bad name and victimize him more policy”.

The SLM-AW “did not initiated the attacks on Jebel Marra,” further stressed the statement, pointing that Washington seeks normalize relations with the Sudanese government.

“U.S State Department wants to find an excuse to its administration’s dealing with a pariah state like Sudan and therefore; it must criminalize SLM/A”.

Since last January, the government forces launched a large scale offensive on the Sudan Liberation Movement – Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) positions in Jebel Marra, accusing the rebels of looting and attacking civilian, military and commercial convoys in the area.

The Sudanese officials also refused to stop the military operation saying the group is not part of the peace process.

The U.S. statement Department said the attacks have forced “73,000 people to flee their homes, and thousands more are trapped in the conflict zone of Jebel Marra without access to aid”.

In addition it called on both the Government of Sudan and the armed movements of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) to re-commit to their cessation of hostilities declarations for Darfur and in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Sudanese government this week announced the extension of the national dialogue and called on the political and armed opposition groups to join the process.

SLM-AW rebels, refuse to join the African Union brokered peace talks. They demand the government to repair first the consequences the 13-year armed conflict unilaterally, after what peace talks can discuss the root causes of the crisis.

The State Department said that there is no military solution to Sudan’s internal conflicts and urged the Sudanese parties to work with the African Union mediators to end the hostilities and allow humanitarian access to civilians in the war affected areas in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

Washington also urged the Sudanese government to create an environment conducive to the participation of armed groups and other political opposition parties in “a comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue that addresses systemic governance issues in Sudan”.

Last October, the Sudanese government has inaugurated an internal dialogue conference but main opposition groups and armed movements refuse to take part in it before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures provided in a roadmap proposed by the African Union mediation.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

(ST)