“We have just arrived from Khartoum. We have been involved in a lot of activities pertaining to the election itself. I have just come from briefing the president of GoSS. I want to assure you that the elections are on. There has been debate lately, sometimes even misquoting the SPLM. We are committed to the elections as scheduled by the NEC. We want to assure you that the process, for which this PPC process will be very useful, is on. Let me repeat, the elections are on.” - Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, Juba, southern Sudan, 31 March 2010 (Source: Alex de Waal's blog, Making Sense of Sudan - Political Parties Council in Juba)THIS blog, Sudan Watch, refers to Abdul Wahid Mohamed Al-Nur as leader of SLM, not SLA. Click on SLM-Nur label here below to view previous reports. Sometime in the future, I hope to label all blogposts stored in the archives of Sudan Watch, Uganda Watch and Congo Watch.
“SPLM is our strategic ally; SLM is not competing with the SPLM. The SPLM is the leading force for change in Sudan, and we need to remain allies” - SLM Chairman Abdul Wahid Al-Nur, Washington, DC, 22 July 2008 (Source: GOSS Mission-USA, copy here below).
Once all of the posts have been labelled, readers will be able to see, at a glance, how Cdr. Al-Nur repeats the same nonsense (see report here below) over and over, like a parrot. Who is priming and paying him and what is France and Russia's role in the battle for Darfur, I wonder.
Note that Cdr. Al-Nur directs the Darfur war from Paris and wants to become president of Sudan without facing election. Who knows if it is true that he has many supporters in Darfur? Maybe he is a coward and doesn't want to know.
Also, copied here below, for the record, is a press release from the official website of GOSS Mission-USA regarding Luka Biong Deng's meeting with Cdr. Al-Nur in Washington, D.C. on 22 July 2008, plus some related reports for future reference.
UNAMID Daily Media Brief / 2010-03-30
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, March 31, 2010/APO)
Security situation in Darfur- - -
The security situation in Darfur remains relatively calm.
UNAMID military forces conducted 102 patrols including routine, short range, long range, night, and Humanitarian escort patrols, covering 101 villages and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps during the reporting period.
UNAMID police advisors also conducted 166 patrols in villages and IDP camps.
UNAMID JSR meets with SLA-AW leader
On 28 March, UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari met in Paris with Abdul Wahid Mohammed Al-Nour, leader of the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW) faction, as a follow up to their earlier meeting on 21 March. The SLA-AW leader reiterated his commitment to peace if certain conditions on the ground were met and indicated that he would be willing to participate in the peace process anywhere, ‘even in Khartoum,’ if those conditions are met, particularly regarding the security of the people of Darfur.
The SLA leader promised not to obstruct UNAMID’s activities in Darfur and to facilitate its access and those of humanitarian organizations to areas in which his movement is present. JSR Gambari expressed hope that SLM-AW will join the peace process in the not-too-distant future. Both men agreed to remain in close contact.
H.E. Dr. Luka Biong Deng Meets with Cdr. Abdul Wahid Al-Nur
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Press Release
Source: GOSS Mission-USA
Date: 22 July 2008
Location: Washington, DC
The Minister of Presidential Affairs of the Government of Southern Sudan and Member of the SPLM National Liberation Council, H.E. Dr. Luka Biong Deng met with the Chairman of Sudan’s Liberation Movement, Cdr. Abdul Wahid Mohamed Al-Nur- - -
Photo: Dr. Luka Biong Deng
Photo: Abdul Wahid Al-Nur
The Minister of Presidential Affairs of the Government of Southern Sudan and Member of the SPLM National Liberation Council, H.E. Dr. Luka Biong Deng and Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Head of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States, Member of the SPLM National Liberation Council, and the SPLM Representative to the United States met with the Chairman of Sudan’s Liberation Movement, Cdr. Abdul Wahid Mohamed Al-Nur on Saturday July 19, 2008 in the Capital of the United States. The Minister was wrapping up a week long official trip to the United States.
The two discussed a wide range of issues including: the importance of the resumption of cooperation between the SPLM and the SLM, leveraging Abdul Wahid’s popular support in Darfur towards finding a satisfactory and sustainable political resolution to the Darfur Conflict, The SPLM Roadmap for Darfur, and the challenges and opportunities of the current political crisis in the country that resulted from ICC’s approval of an Arrest Warrant for the President of the Republic of Sudan, Omer El Bashir.
According to H.E. Dr. Luka Biong Deng, the rift that now exists between the Sudan’s Liberation Movement (SLM) and The Sudan’s People Liberation Movement (SPLM) after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has been created by overt political propaganda that has depicted the SLM as an extremist force and the SPLM as a moderate one.
“SPLM is our strategic Ally; SLM is not competing with the SPLM. The SPLM is the leading force for change in Sudan, and we need to remain allies”, said Chairman Abdul Whaid Al-Nur. He stressed the need for discussions between the two movements around the SPLM Roadmap for Darfur in order to settle points of difference to begin a process of cooperation and coordination between two movements. Cdr. Al-Nur also emphasized the importance of the establishment of direct channels of communication between the respective Leadership of the SLM and SPLM.
In the spirit of comradeship and solidarity that was present throughout their hour long meeting, H.E. Dr. Luka Biong and Cdr. Abdul Wahid Al-Nur parted with the resolve to act expeditiously on issues of agreement and the commitment to discuss the SPLM Roadmap for the resolution of the Darfur Crisis. Furthermore, Cdr. Abdul Wahid committed to a meeting with the Chairman of the SPLM, General Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Related reports
Photo: A picture taken on August 13, 2007 shows the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nur addressing journalists after a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade at Wade’s residence in Paris (AFP/Sudan Watch archives)
SLM Abdel Wahid al-Nur declares his aim is to become President of Sudan
Sudan Watch - Jul 25, 2006
Here is the answer to my question about Minnawi and Nur: if Minni Minnawi takes up the top position in Darfur, what becomes of his rival Abdel Wahid al-Nur? UN SGSR Jan Pronk, in his latest blog entry, reveals that this week, Abdel Wahid al-Nur declared that his aim is to become President of Sudan. Note also, Mr Pronk confirms JEM's aim is not peace but power in Khartoum ...
Darfur commanders impeach President of SLM/A Abdel Wahid Mohamed Ahmed Nur
Sudan Tribune - Aug 01, 2006
July 31, 2006 (PARIS) - Military commanders of Sudan Liberation Movement known as Abdelwahid al-Nur Faction dismissed Abdelwahid al-Nur from the leadership of the movement, a press release said ...
Sudan’s SPLM unveils roadmap to counter ICC move
Sudan Tribune - Aug 13, 2008
August 13, 2008 (KHARTOUM) - A high ranking Sudan People’s Liberation Movement official unveiled the content of a roadmap presented by his party to the National Congress Party ...
US official says Darfur's Nur forfeited peace opportunity
Sudan Tribune - Mar 13, 2010
March 13, 2010 (DOHA) - The leader of Sudan Liberation Movement Abdel-Wahid Mohamed Nur has wasted a "historical" opportunity to join the peace talks and ...
Back to bloody square-one in Darfur
Daily Star - Lebanon - Julie Flint - Mar 15, 2010
I learned about it when Abdul Wahid Mohammad al-Nur, the chairman of the rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), called me by satellite telephone to invite me to ...
SLM chief Abdulwahid al-Nur explains why he won't join Darfur Sudan peace talks
SRS - Sudan Radio Service - Mar 16, 2010
In an interview with SRS from Paris on Monday, Abdulwahid al-Nur said peace is not about the distribution of political influence.
Over the weekend, the US Special Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, told the press in Doha that al-Nur has wasted a "historic" opportunity to join the peace talks. In response, al-Nur described Gration as a colonizer who ignores the conflict in Darfur ...
UN to probe attack on peacekeepers in South Darfur
Sudan Tribune - Mar 26, 2010
The area was the theatre of heavy fighting between the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM/AW), and the regular army and militias ...
Darfur rebels say shot down Sudan helicopters
Reuters - Andrew Heavens, Khaled Abdelaziz - Mar 28, 2010
The insurgents' Paris-based leader Abdel Wahed Mohamed al-Nur is refusing to negotiate with Khartoum, and dismissed a ceasefire signed last month between ...
Two key Darfur rebel groups warn against holding April vote
Sudan Tribune - Mar 31, 2010 - extract:
March 30, 2010 (PARIS) - The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) today joined the calls for delaying the vote. "Any elections held now under these circumstances will deem them meaningless and will not achieve the desired outcome of stabilizing country and transforming it to a democratic one," Al-Nur told Sudan Tribune today. [...]
JEM, which is currently engaged in peace talks with Khartoum, echoed Al-Nur’s call saying that the "bare minimum standards" for holding them should exist stressing that the bulk of Darfuri population has not been registered in the census or the voter registration process.
"Excluding [Darfuris] from participation in shaping the future of their country through the ballot box at this critical juncture of the history of the country would weaken their sense of belonging, and works to amplify the voice of the advocates of self-determination for Darfur" according to a statement signed by JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam.
JEM slammed the "arrogance" of the NCP in dealing with other political powers saying it does not help building the "national consensus".
"Holding elections in April places obstacles before the peace talks process, and in particular the power sharing portion. Prioritizing the conducting of elections over achieving peace offers conclusive evidence that the NCP does give much care to peace, and unable to depart from the selfish interests of party loyalty to the supreme national interest".
JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim during meeting with Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen in Ndjamena refused to finalize a ceasefire agreement unless he reaches an agreement on the power sharing with the government. Khartoum rejects to give his group a vice-presidency and to postpone elections ...
