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Sudan Tribune

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Former Darfur rebel faction backs Bashir’s candidacy for new mandate

February 23, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A faction of the former rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) led by Tijani al-Sissi announced Monday its support for the candidature of incumbent Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir for a new term.

The leader of Sudan's Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), Tijani Al-Sissi, speaks to the media during an interview in Khartoum on 7 August 2012 (Photo: Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images)
The leader of Sudan’s Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), Tijani Al-Sissi, speaks to the media during an interview in Khartoum on 7 August 2012 (Photo: Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images)
The signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Sudan (DDPD), LJM split into two political parties one led by its former secretary general Bahar Idriss Abu Garda and now registered as the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) party while the second is matriculated as the National Liberation and Justice Movement (NLJM) headed by Tijani al-Sissi.

Both groups said this split will not affect their commitment to the DDPD and the peace agreement they signed with the government. However some military commanders of the former rebel group recently slammed the political leadership for neglecting the full implementation of the security arrangements in order to please the ruling National Congress Party with which they signed a political partnership agreement ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Speaking at the first general conference of the NLJM held in Khartoum, al-Sissi reiterated the participation of his party in the general elections. He pointed to the national character of the party, saying that their candidates will run in almost all districts across the country.

He further stressed on their support for the re-election of the Sudanese president for a new mandate, adding that the NJLM will not run for presidency and they will vote for Bashir.

NJLM officials believe that they can convince Darfurians who have resided in different regions across the country to vote for their candidates who will seek to bring development projects and services to their home region.

Al-Sissi said his party is open to all the Sudanese and emphasised that security is key for stability and development in Darfur, calling on all the holdout rebel groups to join the peace process and reach national reconciliation.

The political leader was alluding to the African Union roadmap which provides to bring rebel groups to conclude security arrangements agreement before to join the national dialogue process to discuss constitutional reforms in Sudan.

DIALOGUE IS THE ONLY WAY

Presidential assistant, Ibrahim Ghandour who addressed the conference reiterated the continuation of the national dialogue, underlining it is the only way to end the current crisis and “reach safe shores”.

“So we will go in the dialogue until the end,” he said.

Ghandour further called on the political forces which reject the national dialogue to join the process to express their issues and contribute with their ideas in the development of the country.

He further said the LJM is the first former rebel group to transform into a political party adding it should serve as an example for the others.

The other faction of the former rebel movement led by Abu Garda is expected to hold its general conference next Sunday at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum.

COMMANDERS DISTANCE THEMSELVES

A number of former rebel commanders of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) distanced themselves from a statement criticising the implementation of the security arrangements.

A statement signed by 38 LJM commanders on Saturday, criticised the “botched” implementation of the security arrangements and accused their political leadership of complicity with the federal government. They also demanded financial compensation for their military equipment.

However, several LJM commanders reached by Sudan Tribune denied taking part in this statement and minimised the move, saying the implementation of the security arrangements is well engaged despite the existence of some problems.

Commander Mohamed Saleh Mango told Sudan Tribune they were surprised when they read the statement published in the media. He added that the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process will begin in East Darfur’s Ed Daein on 26 February.

He added that some commanders have their own vision for the implementation of the security arrangements as they insist on the payment of compensation for the military equipment they delivered to the Sudanese authorities.

He added that many commanders cited in the statement were not consulted.

LJM former chief negotiator, Tadjadine Beshir Niam, minimised the significance of the statement, adding it would not affect the transformation of the former rebel movement into political party.

Niam told Sudan Tribune that there is no missteps hampering the implementation of the security arrangements, except some delay in the DDR process and the integration of combatants in the Sudanese army.

“This led to some grumbling among the commander on the ground,” he added.

However, he asserted that they can convince those commanders.

The Al-Sissi faction told Sudan Tribune they are not concerned by this statement as all their commanders are committed to the DDR process.

Among the signatories of this statement; there is Abdalla Banda, a close ally to Bahar Idriss Abu Garda and Niam.

(ST)

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