‘Displacement policy in Darfur leads to demands for self-rule’: rebel leader

01/04/2014 11:41

None of the Darfur armed rebel movements attended the second Um Jaras Forum for Peace, Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in eastern Chad convened from 26-30 March. Minni Minawi, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement and Co Vice-President of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, confirmed to Radio Dabanga that the armed movements are not a party to the recommendations and outputs of the Forum. He described the Um Jaras Forum as “just one of the many episodes of the conspiracy series against Darfur”. “It again proves the existence of the politics of opportunism that have been in practice in Sudan for more than 60 years.” “The issue of Darfur is political, not tribal,” Minawi said. “The tribal problems in the region are created by ​​President Al Bashir. The operations against villages and civilians in North Darfur, located not very far from Um Jaras, are masterminded in an accurate and systematic way. The so-called Rapid Support Forces, or Janjaweed, currently raiding rural areas in North Darfur, are financed, trained, and supervised by Khartoum. What is happening now is worse than the fighting in 2003-2004.” Therefore Minawi urged the international community and the UN to intervene and stop the daily massacres, the forced displacement of the people living in the rural areas to the towns, and the settlement of others on their lands. “The policy of scorched earth, massive killing, and systematic impoverishment and displacement, being carried out by Khartoum, can only lead to demands for self-rule.” Photo: Newly displaced are seeking refuge near Unamid’s base in Korma, North Darfur, 25 March 2014 (Owies Elfaki/Unamid)Related:Um Jaras recommendations: ‘Disarm all but regular forces in Darfur’ (31 March 2014)‘Problem in Darfur is mobilisation and arming of tribes’: Um Jaras Forum (30 March 2014)Al Bashir, Deby in Um Jaras a ‘show’: Darfur rebels (28 March 2014)‘Um Jaras Forum to offer effective solutions for Darfur’: Chad President (27 March 2014)

None of the Darfur armed rebel movements attended the second Um Jaras Forum for Peace, Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in eastern Chad convened from 26-30 March.

Minni Minawi, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement and Co Vice-President of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, confirmed to Radio Dabanga that the armed movements are not a party to the recommendations and outputs of the Forum.

He described the Um Jaras Forum as “just one of the many episodes of the conspiracy series against Darfur”. “It again proves the existence of the politics of opportunism that have been in practice in Sudan for more than 60 years.”

“The issue of Darfur is political, not tribal,” Minawi said. “The tribal problems in the region are created by ​​President Al Bashir. The operations against villages and civilians in North Darfur, located not very far from Um Jaras, are masterminded in an accurate and systematic way. The so-called Rapid Support Forces, or Janjaweed, currently raiding rural areas in North Darfur, are financed, trained, and supervised by Khartoum. What is happening now is worse than the fighting in 2003-2004.”

Therefore Minawi urged the international community and the UN to intervene and stop the daily massacres, the forced displacement of the people living in the rural areas to the towns, and the settlement of others on their lands.

“The policy of scorched earth, massive killing, and systematic impoverishment and displacement, being carried out by Khartoum, can only lead to demands for self-rule.”

Photo: Newly displaced are seeking refuge near Unamid’s base in Korma, North Darfur, 25 March 2014 (Owies Elfaki/Unamid)

Related:

Um Jaras recommendations: ‘Disarm all but regular forces in Darfur’ (31 March 2014)

‘Problem in Darfur is mobilisation and arming of tribes’: Um Jaras Forum (30 March 2014)

Al Bashir, Deby in Um Jaras a ‘show’: Darfur rebels (28 March 2014)

‘Um Jaras Forum to offer effective solutions for Darfur’: Chad President (27 March 2014)