The leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel Wahid Al-Nur slammed today the recent decisions of the African Union on Darfur peace process and warned that such move will hamper any political solution for the eight year conflict.

SLM Leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (AP) 

"We condemn the biased decisions adopted by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union regarding the efforts undertaken by the Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole and we warn that such move would impede any chance to reach a political solution for Darfur conflict" Al-Nur said.

The rebel leader also disclosed to Sudan Tribune that he and the joint mediator are coordinating to meet soon to discuss the ongoing efforts for a negotiated settlement for the conflict.

In a meeting held on 8 April the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) blamed Bassole for ignoring its decisions for peace in Darfur and not coordinating with head of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan led former South African president Thabo Mbeki.

The meeting, attended by the Sudanese presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen who is tasked with Darfur file, also requested Bassole to provide a "comprehensive report on his activities and any future plans by 30 April 2011".

Al-Nur, who is not part of the Doha peace process, denounced the position of African body saying that they had first to condemn the daily violence and "the genocide" committed by Khartoum’s army and militias and to ask Khartoum to protect civilians.

Hel also said "Mbeki’s plan for peace in Darfur does not deserve any support because it lays the ground for Khartoum to officialize the status quo of injustice and crimes in Dafur" adding "this is why we reject it totally".

"Mbeki also is not the right man to undertake any effort for peace in Darfur because of the personal business he conducts with the Sudanese regime and particularly Al-Bashir family," he accused.

He further said that he is keen to keep contacts with the Mediator despite the that he didn’t yet join the peace because "Bassole has proven his is most credible mediator who works tirelessly and honestly to end the conflict".

"This is why we respect him and believe that he can broker peace in Darfur. Khartoum has more than ever proven its blatant contempt for the rights of Darfur people; and the military solution obviously is the only option it has," he added.

The Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir issued a decree to organize a referendum on Darfur administrative status after refusing to concede on the issue at the negotiating table in Doha with the Liberation and Justice Movement(LJM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

The two rebel groups denounced the move saying the government breached the framework agreements signed with them. JEM delegation stopped talks with the government while LJM said will keep negotiating but warned it will only abide by the outcome of the peace process.

JEM DISMISSES SUDAN ACCUSATION AGAINST UGANDA

JEM rebels today downplayed Sudan’s accusations that Ugandan government is supporting the rebel group to carry out new attacks in Darfur.

Gibreel Adam Bilal, the spokesperson of the rebel group, said that "there is not peace to undermine", adding they are negotiating with the government since eight years ago but however they did not reach a political agreement with the government.

He accused the government of obstructing the ongoing efforts for peace in Doha by withdrawing "the most important files" from the negotiating table.

"The government should leave procrastination, and be more serious in dealing with the file of the negotiations and peace. The international community has become more pronounced on the need to resolve all the pending issues in Doha and therefore there is no room to pull some issues from the Doha forum," he added.

(ST)