Abdelwahid rebels reject Sudan peace process

Abdel Wahid Mohamed El Nur, the head of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement faction SLM-AW, kept to his position to not join the other main rebel groups' ceasefire, during meetings with the United States Special Envoy for Sudan and the chairman of Unamid in Paris on Monday.

Abdel Wahid told Radio Dabanga yesterday that Donald Booth, the US Envoy, asked his movement to join the six-month ceasefire that has been declared by the rebel movements under the Sudan Revolutionary Front, being the SLM-MM, the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and the Justice and Equality Movement.

The rebel leader said that the SLM-AW will not sign or join a ceasefire with the government in the current situation. “People are still being killed and displaced, and women are being raped, and the Sudanese are being deprived of their rights.”

'We will be the first ones to join the peace process when security and freedom are realised in Sudan.'

Booth further asked him to join the process for peace that has been ongoing since the announcement of a Roadmap to peace in Sudan on 19 March by mediators of the African Union. “Booth pointed out that they are now working closely with the government,” Abdel Wahid said. Opposition forces of the Sudan Appeal have shown willingness to signing an adjusted version of the Roadmap.

But Abdel Wahid informed the envoy about the movement’s firm position that “real peace begins with security and freedoms for the Sudanese people. And whenever that is realised, we will be first ones in the line to join the peace process.”

In the meeting with officials of the African Union-UN Mission in Darfur (Unamid) in Paris, the rebel leader requested the mission to provide more protection to the people in Darfur. “Unamid is concerned with maintaining security and protection of civilians and should play this role.”

“I agreed with Unamid to cooperate so that there will be security on the ground in Darfur,” he claimed.

Abdel Wahid described both meetings with the US envoy and the head of UNAMID as frank, clear and positive.