Darfur rebel groups: SLA-United/SLA-G19 split from SLA-Nur and joined NRF

Thanks to Eric Reeves for the following excerpt, extracted from his latest opinion piece "Assistance in Darfur Hanging by a Thread"

The main fighting elements of the "National Redemption Force" (NRF) in North Darfur are those of the Sudan Liberation Army faction know as SLA-United, or SLA-G19 after the 19 SLA commanders who split from Abdel Wahid el-Nur. Abdel Wahid is the SLA leader who did not sign the Abuja agreement and who shows signs of both political and military weakness and increasing isolation Because he is a Fur, however, the largest ethnic group in Darfur, he retains considerable significance in any peace or reconciliation effort. Abdel Wahid's primary military base is in the rugged Jebel Marra area in central Darfur.

SLA-United/SLA-G19 enjoys considerable popular support and has gained military control over virtually all territory north of el-Fasher in North Darfur, having defeated the forces of yet another SLA faction, that of Minni Minawi, who did sign the Abjua accord and is widely reviled by Darfuris, even those in his own Zaghawa tribe. It is Minawi who has been receiving military support directly from Khartoum in his attacks on civilians in North Darfur in a desperate bid to regain his previous control of the area. Minawi is slated to become the fourth-ranking member of the National Islamic Front "Government of National Unity," with the title of "Presidential Assistant."

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DARFUR REBEL LEADER TO BE HONOURED IN KHARTOUM

Aug 4 2006 IRIN report excerpt:

Earlier on Thursday, the SLM/A held a political rally at Hajj Yousif, on the outskirts of Khartoum, where many war-displaced Sudanese live. "The purpose was to enlighten the people on the culture of peace and to introduce the SLM/A ideology, and its political mission, cultural, social and economic plans for the wellbeing of the New Sudan," he said.

Some Fur citizens who support Abdelwahid Mohamed al-Nur's Darfur rebel faction reportedly disrupted the rally, however, by throwing stones and chairs into the crowd, but Hussein dismissed the violence.

Photo: Rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction leader Minni Arcua Minnawi signs a deal with the Sudanese government in the Nigerian capital Abuja May 5, 2006, after days and nights of intense talks under global pressure. The government of Sudan and the main Darfur rebel faction signed a peace agreement on Friday to end three years of fighting that has killed many thousands of people and forced 2 million to flee their homes. (Reuters/STR)



Photo: Rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction leader Minni Arcua Minnawi (R) is congratulated by Republic of Congo's President and Africa Union chairman Denis Sassou Nguesso (L) and an unidentified person (C) after he signed the deal with the Sudanese government in the Nigerian capital Abuja May 5, 2006. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)