JEM's El-Tahir El-Fakie says the war in Darfur is not over

What ambassador Halim said was a reaction to the UN secretary-general’s statement that no progress has been made in Darfur.

From Sudan Radio Service, Monday, 30 November 2009:

(Khartoum/London) - The Government of National Unity says that the AU and UN joint peace keeping forces in Darfur should prepare to leave the region.

“The war in Darfur is not over.

Sudan’s Ambassador to the UN, Abdulmahmoud Abdulhalim, made the statement in New York last week.

Abdulhalim was reacting to a report by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon that GONU has violated an agreement which allows the full deployment of UNAMID forces in Darfur.

GONU claims that there is an improvement in security and the humanitarian situation in Darfur and that there is no need for UNAMID in the region.

The adviser to the Minister of Information in GONU, Dr. Rabie Abdullaati, spoke to SRS from Khartoum on Monday.

[Dr. Rabie Abdullaati]: “What ambassador Halim said was a reaction to the UN secretary-general’s statement that no progress has been made in Darfur - yet the last report by UN observers described how there is a tremendous improvement on the ground in Darfur regarding the humanitarian and security situations. Even the UNAMID reports say so. So there are many indications that show there is no need for the joint AU-UN peace-keeping forces in Darfur.”

The main Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement, claimed that a war is still going on in Darfur, and that there is no improvement in the region.

The chairperson of the JEM legislative council, Dr. el-Tahir el-Fakie, spoke to us from London.

[Dr. el-Tahir el-Fakie]: “The war in Darfur is not over. The end of the war should lead to a ceasefire agreement, reconciliation, compensation and the return of the IDPs. All these issues have not been settled yet. Now they want the UNAMID to leave? This is just political maneuvering and the facts are inaccurate. The ambassador knows very well that the Government of Sudan can’t chase out UNAMID because the conflict is not over. There are still some pending issues; displaced people, people getting killed, and there are criminals that must be prosecuted. This is the issue.”

SRS contacted UNAMID spokesman Noureddine Mezni, but he declined to comment on the issue.

The UNAMID hybrid operation was endorsed by the AU and the UN in December 2006 and was approved by the Government of Sudan in June 2007, after months of opposition.

Russian envoy to Sudan holds talks with JEM in N’Djamena, Chad re Darfur peace process

Appointed in December 2008 by the President Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian envoy Mikhail Margelov speaks fluent Arabic. His appointment signals the desire of the Russian government to play a greater role in Sudan which has good economic and military ties with Moscow.

From Sudan Radio Service, 22 October 2009:
Russian Envoy Holds Talks With JEM in Chad

(London) - The Russian envoy to Sudan, Mikhail Margelov, held talks on Thursday with the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement in N’Djamena. They discussed the Darfur peace process and democratic transition in Sudan.

The meeting follows an international workshop in Moscow where Sudan’s special envoys renewed their support for the Doha peace process.

During the meeting, Margelov stressed the need to resume negotiations with the Sudanese government in order to reach a negotiated settlement to the six-year conflict.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service from London on Thursday, the chairman of JEM’s legislative assembly, El-Tahir El Fakie, explains the points discussed in the meeting.

[El Fakie]: “JEM was clear in this meeting, the leader of JEM spoke in this meeting and he explained some of the important points in the meeting. He welcomed mister Margelov and he appreciated the concern of Russian government to discuss the Darfur issue. The second point was that he provided the envoy with background information about the tragedy in Darfur and the root causes of the conflict in Darfur and in Sudan generally, particularly the problem of marginalization. After that, he said that JEM wanted a peaceful solution to the Darfur conflict.”

El Tahir was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Thursday from London.

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From Sudan Tribune, Thursday 22 October 2009:
Russian envoy, JEM leader discuss Darfur peace process

October 21, 2009 (PARIS) — The Russian envoy to Sudan held talks today with the leader of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in the Chadian capital where the two parties discussed Darfur peace process and democratic transition in Sudan.

In his first ever meeting with a rebel group, Mikhail Margelov, held talks on Wednesday with JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim in Ndjamena. The meeting took place two weeks after an international workshop in Moscow where Sudan’s special envoys renewed their support to the Doha peace process.

Sudanese government and JEM signed a goodwill agreement in Doha last February but the talks stalled as the rebel group asks the government to implement two clauses in the deal related to the release of POWs and the improvement of humanitarian situation.

During the meeting, Margelov stressed on the need to resume negotiations with the Sudanese government in the Qatari capital in order to reach a negotiated settlement to the six-year conflict.

However, Ibrahim who renewed his commitment to the peace process said they want a "serious peace process where the stakeholders commit themselves to enforce what they agree” said Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the rebel movement.

The rebel leader further pointed out that a successful peace process implies to avoid chaos and to engage the main actors as well as to not involve fictive players in the process, Ahmed said.

JEM rebels further stressed they are in constant contact with the Joint Mediator Djibril Bassole and the Qatari officials in order to reach "a real strategy to achieve peace" in Darfur, he further added.

Appointed in December 2008 by the President Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian special envoy who speaks fluency Arabic language visited Darfur where more than 300 thousands are killed to assess the humanitarian situation. His appointment signals the desire of the Russian government to play a greater role in Sudan which has good economic and military ties with Moscow.

Ahmed said they informed Margelov they welcome Russia’s role in Sudan and they are not opposed to its interests in Sudan. However the rebels said that Moscow’s role could be greater if it deal equally with all the stakeholders.

The rebels also urged the Russian government to exert pressures on the Sudanese government in order to reach a just peace.

SLM-Nur snubs US's Gration meeting, JEM dismisses Sudan President Salva Kiir's call on Darfur rebels to unite

Photo: Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Dr Tahar Adam al Fiki, seen, during the Darfur Peace Talks, in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photos/Maneesh Bakshi/Sudan Watch archives 04 March 2009: Darfur rebels vow full ICC cooperation ahead of ruling on Bashir case)
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From Sudan Radio Service, Thursday, 13 August 2009:
Kiir Calls On Darfur Groups to Unite

(London) – The first Vice president and the President of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir, is calling on the Darfur anti-government groups to organize themselves under one leadership.

Salva Kiir made the statement during his visit to Blue Nile state on Wednesday.

[Salva Kiir]: “Their problem needs a solution, but they did not get leadership, they did not get a person to organize and lead them in order to demand their rights. Their anger makes them create all these movements. But if they get a leadership, they can discuss their issues. The government can’t negotiate with 28 delegations from the Darfur movements. They should unite in order to have one delegation when they go for peace negotiations with GONU.”

The Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement disagrees with this analysis.

JEM senior official Dr. El-Tahir el-Fakie spoke to Sudan Radio Service from London on Thursday.

[El-Tahir el-Fakie]:  "It is not the problem of an absence of leadership, the leadership is there, and the leadership is JEM. But there are some birds who are trying to move away from the flock, this is the problem.  JEM will never agree to sit at a table with warring groups who have different thoughts and on the other side there is a united enemy (the NCP) who are experienced in politics and in conspiracy."

Dr. El-Tahir el-Fakie was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from London.

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Photo: SPLM Supporters at the stadium during the rally in Damazin on Wednesday, 12 August 2009 (SPLM Today)

From Sudan Tribune, Saturday 15 August 2009:
Darfur rebels should reunite to get peace – Salva Kiir

August 14, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese First Vice-President urged Darfur rebel movements to unite in order to reach a negotiated settlement of the six year conflict in western Sudan.

Doha peace process seems stalled by the differences among Darfur groups who have different political programmes and demands. The signing of Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006 also resulted in the emergence of many small groups.

In remarks he made in Damazin on Wednesday during his visit to the Blue Nile state, the head of southern Sudan government said the number of rebel factions in Darfur reached 28 groups.

"The government can’t negotiate with 28 delegations from the Darfur movements. They should unite in order to have one delegation when they go for peace negotiations with GONU," he said.

"Their anger makes them create all these movements. But if they get a leadership, they can discuss their issues," he further stressed.

Kiir harsh speech on the rebel groups in Darfur comes at a time where the Doha peace process is deadlocked due to the refusal of two main groups to engage peace talks with the government for different reasons.

The Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur rejects any talks before to resolve the security concerns of some 2.7 million internally displaced persons. The group demands the disarmament of government militias and the return of the IDPs to their villages.

The Justice and Equality Movement of Khalil Ibrahim accepted the principal of talks but requires the implementation of a goodwill agreement signed with Khartoum and particularly the improvement of humanitarian situation and the release of its fighters detained by the Sudanese government.

Further the meddling of neighboring countries once again complicates the peace process. Libya and Egypt who were supposed to help the efforts of the mediation are now taking contradictory initiatives disturbing the efforts of the mediation.

Also, the SPLM was supposed to play a role in the resolution of the conflict but the continuous troubles with the National Congress Party led its peace partner to suspect any move undertaken in this issue and frozen its efforts. (ST)

On most days, the only laugh I get from news on Sudan is in the comments at Sudan Tribune. I love the Sudanese people's passionate way with words. The following comment at the article above (by mayiik Albino after a dozen or so comments plus three in Arabic) made me laugh:

what a hell is written here, that looked like sh*t Arabic man next time dont be selfish

On revisiting the article, I see the comment has been deleted, along with the three written in Arabic. This confirms to me that comments at Sudan Tribune are moderated.
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From Sudan Tribune, Saturday 15 August 2009:
Darfur rebel group snobs Addis Ababa unity meeting

August 14, 2009 (PARIS) — Darfur rebel group reiterated today its rejection to a meeting expected to be held next week in Addis Ababa organized by US envoy to Sudan in order to reunite different factions of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).

US President special envoy to Sudan Mr. Scott Gration invited the SLM factions to attend a three day meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on August 18. The meeting is designated to discuss the unity of the rebel factions.

Gration stated recently he was working hard "to unify the (Darfur) rebels so that there is a spokesman for that group."

However, a spokesperson of the SLM group led by the founder of the movement Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur said they are willing to discuss the reunification of their SLM but without the interference of the US envoy or other mediator.

"We are open to discuss the crucial issue of unity with our comrades because we are basically in favor of this idea. But we do not need the interference of the US envoy" said Abdel-Rahman Adam Nimer the military spokesperson of the group speaking to Sudan Tribune from Ndjamena.

"Such talks should be in the field among and we need to take all the needed time not a quick meeting in Addis Ababa," he further said.

Nimer pointed out that the reunification of the rebel movement should not be done for the purpose of peace talks with the Sudanese government only saying "such unity is not viable."

Last week, local press in Khartoum published statements attributed to Gration where he had invited Al-Nur partisans to choose another leader. The call disturbed his supporters who are already angered by what they consider a “supportive stance to Khartoum."

"We are disturbed by Gration’s statements on the genocide in Darfur, and the improvement of humanitarian conditions in Darfur camps," said Nimer who was keen to distinguish between Gration and the US people and Obama administration.

He also called upon the US administration and the other donors to provide the necessary logistical support for the organization of a unity conference inside Darfur if they are serious in their efforts to reunite the SLM factions.

This week, some eight rebel factions from SLM and other groups including two breakaway JEM factions renewed in Libya their commitment to negotiate with the Sudanese government with one delegation and a common ground paper.

The rebel factions had already agreed in March of this year to join Doha peace process but difference emerged between them emerged during a meeting held in Cairo last July when the Egyptian authorities proposed to form a new rebel groups before the talks.

Observers say Gration attempts to find a way for the representation of Darfur biggest ethnic group of the Fur tribe. SLM-Al Nur asks Khartoum before to accept the peace process to disarm the militias and to provide security for the return of displaced population to their homeland. (ST)

Meanwhile:
More than 2,000 people killed in South Sudan since Jan 2009 -UN
Sudan Watch, August 14, 2009.

In southern Sudan a humanitarian disaster more serious than that in Darfur is unfolding
Sudan Watch, August 10, 2009

• Sudan, Red Cross and UNICEF agree to cooperate to reintegrate Darfur child soldiers
• 200 Tanzanian peacekeepers arrive in Darfur

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Quote for the Day



From Obale Palato at Obale Palato blog spot:

....in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, there's enough for everybody's need but not enough for everyone's greed.

In a simple thought one would think that Mr Gandhi had African leaders and their followers in mind. In fact most of the African problems are directly linked to greed as opposed to needs. This because, had it been for the mere needs, which among others include those basic ones like food, medical, housing, etc African problems would have been history at the moment. Contrary, we can not moved out of numerous problems simply because our leaders could not differentiate between needs and greeds.

JEM rebels openly driving through Oure Cassoni camp in Chad for Darfur refugees

A JEM spokesman told the BBC his group had permission from the Chadian authorities to enter Oure Cassoni camp in Chad near Sudan's border for supplies and to get vehicles fixed.

Source: BBC News Tuesday, 07 July 2009
Sudan rebels 'use Chad's camps'

JEM dismisses a report by the BBC that their troops are moving around refugee camps in NE Chad

From Sudan Radio Service Tuesday, 07 July 2009:

(London) – The Darfur anti-government group, the Justice and Equality Movement, has dismissed a report by the BBC that their troops are moving around refugee camps in north-eastern Chad.

The report said that a BBC investigation discovered that JEM fighters have been seen - armed and unchallenged - in Oure Cassoni, a refugee camp in north-eastern Chad.

JEM has described the report as baseless.

A senior JEM official, Dr El-Tahir el-Fakie, spoke to Sudan Radio Service from London on Tuesday.

[El-Tahir El-Fakie]:” JEM is completely responsible and respects international law and the situation of the IDPs and the refugees. This report is nonsense and baseless.

First of all, the refugees are in Chad, JEM has no presence in Chad, they are inside Sudan. JEM has a presence in Sudanese territory around Umbaru, Furawiya, and Kornoi, so JEM does not need to go to the refugee camps and enter Chad, so this is baseless talk. 

They are saying the same thing now that was said before, a month ago, the ICRC contacted us, asking about some people who had entered the camps and abducted some refugees, but it appeared that those people had no link with JEM. It could be some other parties, but JEM has nothing to do with this issue.”

Dr El-Tahir el-Fakie was speaking to Sudan Radio Service on Tuesday from London.

Darfur rebels vow full ICC cooperation ahead of ruling on Bashir case

From Sudan Tribune Monday 2 March 2009 05:00:
Darfur rebels vow full ICC cooperation ahead of ruling on Bashir case

March 1, 2009 (PARIS) — The leaders of the major Darfur rebel groups pledged full cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) days before judges make a ruling on a war crimes case against president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.



Photo: From left to right: Secretary of external affairs at the Darfur United Resistance Front (URF) Tag Al-Din Bashir; Leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) legacy faction Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur; Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) humanitarian coordinator Suleiman Jamous; Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim

On Wednesday the ICC judges will release their decision on a request by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo submitted last July for an arrest warrant against Bashir accusing him masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

At the time Darfur rebel groups hailed the ICC move against the Sudanese president saying it is a victory for the Darfuri people.

Last November the ICC prosecutor submitted a second case against three unidentified rebel commanders accused of attacking a military base in last October 2007 that left 10 African Union (AU) soldiers dead and one missing.

“We are not calling for justice for the others and denying it for ourselves. Justice is justice and peace is peace and a crime is a crime. We will not hide and we mean it” the secretary of external affairs at the Darfur United Resistance Front (URF) Tag Al-Din Bashir said on a video broadcasted online.

“We don’t say to Bashir you go. No, we should also go when we have been called. We are going to cooperate very closely with the ICC and we are going to work hand in hand with the ICC to reveal all the truth and to implement international justice in a manner that is going to be a good example for us in Darfur, in Sudan, in Africa” he added.

Asked whether they will hand over any of their commanders if they indicted the URF official responded “it is not of the URF will hand them over, they will voluntarily go”.

The ICC prosecutor in his application left the door open for an issuing a summons to appear rather than an arrest warrant if the rebel commanders cooperate.

“Subject to the Pre-Trial Chamber’s determination, the Prosecution submits that a summons to appear could be an alternative pursued by the Court if the Court receives information as to the possible voluntary appearance of the individuals” the application reads.

Ocampo also told AFP that “while the judges decide on the warrants, they [suspects] now have the chance to appear on their own accord. They know who they are”.

Suleiman Jamous, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) humanitarian coordinator also appearing on the video said that international justice “will be carried out towards Al-Bashir so I think it is not easy then to say that if it came to our side we will not cooperate with the ICC”.

“So if any our people are indicted he will willingly to go and to tell the international community that we are innocent and then he will come back” he said.

Jamous also promised to help the ICC capture the suspects if within their ranks or in other groups if within their capacity.

He also denied that the decision of his movement to remove one of its commanders Salih Jarbo linked to reports that he is one of the three suspects.

The head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) legacy faction Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur said that he will turn himself in along with any of his rebel group to the ICC if needed “without any preconditions”.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) chief Khalil Ibrahim who recently signed a goodwill accord with Khartoum echoed Al-Nur’s call saying that they “don’t fear at all” the Hague-based court.

“We are admiring the ICC, we are fully supporting the ICC. We are ready to go to ICC including myself and we are ready to work as tool ICC to capture anybody” Ibrahim said.

The JEM leader has made statements this month saying that if a warrant is issued for Bashir then it is “an end of his legitimacy to be president of Sudan”.

“We will work hard to bring him down ... If he doesn’t cooperate with the ICC, the war will intensify”.

Sudan refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC saying it has not ratified the treaty establishing the court. Currently there are two ICC arrest warrants pending for Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, and militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, also know as Ali Kushayb.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) issued resolution 1593 under chapter VII in March 2005 referring the situation in Darfur to the ICC. (ST)

Video can be seen here below or here

Responding to sealed indictments issued by the International Criminal Court for three rebel field commanders in Darfur wanted in connection with the attack on AU peacekeepers at Haskanita in 2007 in which 12 peacekeepers died, the leadership of the four main rebel groups in Darfur pledge full cooperation with the ICC. Those interviewed here include Khalil Ibrahim (JEM), Abdelwahid Mohammed Nur (SLM/A), Suleiman Jamous (SLM Unity) and Tadjedin Bashir Niam (URF)


Darfur rebels promise to cooperate with ICC from Darfur Tribune on Vimeo

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JEM's Dr Tahar Adam al Fik



Photo: Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Dr Tahar Adam al Fiki, seen, during the Darfur Peace Talks, in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. (AP Photos/Maneesh Bakshi)