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Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Darfur former rebel group to transform into political party

April 12, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur former rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) said acting to transform their group into political party in order to take part in the next year general elections.

The SLM- led by Minni Minnawi signed Darfur Peace Agreement with the Sudanese government in 2006. However the former rebels showed till recently opposition to the election asking to reach a comprehensive peace deal before.

The SLM deputy chairman El-Rayah Mahmoud said Saturday that his group is acting to transform the SLM-MM to a political party in order to participate in the upcoming elections.

Sudan has to hold general elections at the presidential and legislative national levels besides, the elections of governors and regional legislative assemblies. The date of the elections was delayed from July this year to February 2010.

The Council of Political Parties Affairs deferred last month an application to register Minnawi group as political party asking them to present a letter from the security arrangements committee attesting the integration of the SLM fighters.

The Council also demanded a written commitment from the SLM to not use force to achieve its goals and to modify its logo and seal so as to eliminate any reference to military action.

In a meeting held in the headquarters of the SLM in Omdurman on Saturday, El –Rayah said the SLM seeks to shift to a political party having a presence in all the parts of Sudan, and called on everyone to get ready for a peaceful political action.

On the other hand, the Senior Presidential Assistant and head of the Transitional Authority is touring the different parts of Darfur calling for peaceful coexistence between the different tribes and ethnic groups.

Two days ago Minnawi paid a visit to Malit in North Darfur where he called to reject tribal and ethnic differences and to focus on local development and peaceful coexistence.

The former rebel leader lost many of his military capabilities and troop also the Sudanese army now control some localities that were managed by SLM-MM like Muhageriya in South Darfur.

(ST)

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