JEM splinter group announced

A splinter faction from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced its separation from Darfur’s largest rebel group on Tuesday, 11 September, as published on Sudan Tribune. The dissident group said in a statement that during a meeting held in Furawiyya, North Darfur on 8 and 9 September, they decided to “relieve JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim”.  During this meeting they also appointed Mohamed Bashar Ahmed as head of the transitional military council “until the organisation of a general convention within 45 days”. In addition, Bakheit Abdallah Abdel-Karim (Dabajo), was reinstated as JEM’s general commander and Ali Wafi, former JEM’s military spokesperson, was appointed as the transitional military council’s spokesman. In an interview with Radio Dabanga from Cairo, Egypt, Wafi accused JEM of becoming a biased organization, expressing favouritism to some particular ideas. In addition, he accused JEM of being no longer transparent, as published in Sudan Tribune. Sources said the faction has a high military strength as they have over 150 vehicles and sophisticated weapons that were brought from Libya last year, Sudan Tribune wrote. JEM’s spokesperson, Jibril Adam Bilal, stressed to Radio Dabanga that these new developments will not affect JEM. He said JEM will continue to fight against the National Congress Party (NCP) and towards the establishment of new state institutions. Bilal added that any reforms within JEM are be done through elections and not through the creation of new breakaway factions. He added that there should be a development towards greater political and military coherence between movements that fight to overthrow the NCP. The interviews with Ali Wafi and with Jibril Adam Bilal with Radio Dabanga will be broadcast on Friday, 14 September.