JEM faction demands increase in oil-generated revenue, Sudan

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) faction that on 10 February signed a ceasefire agreement with the Sudanese government in Doha is demanding an increase in oil-generated revenue granted to oil-producing areas in Darfur and the rest of Sudan. It is arguing that a fair share of oil revenues is crucial to develop the Darfur region, devastated after 10 years of war. “We believe that oil producing areas in Darfur and the rest of Sudan should receive five percent of the income generated by their oil,” said Nahar Osman, an advisor of the faction’s leader Mohamed Bashar. Nahar, who is also a member of the movement’s negotiating team on the basis of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), noted that the existing two percent share is not enough to develop marginal areas. He added that work force priority should be given to those residing in oil-producing zones. In this context, he said the rebel group also proposed to create a fund for small projects aiming to support small activities initiated by poor families. On 11 September Radio Dabanga reported that a splinter faction of JEM announced its separation from Darfur’s largest rebel group claiming they had become a biased organization that expressed favoritism to some particular ideas. JEM, which does not recognize the breakaway faction, declared these new developments would not affect them and vowed to continue fighting to topple the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).Photo: Oil well drilling pits (IRIN)See also: JEM splinter faction, Sudan government sign ceasefire agreement (11 February 2013)