United Front for Liberation & Development (UFLD)
In response to a kind invitation from the State of Eritrea, partner with the Republic of Chad and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in the regional initiative for peace in Darfur; the representatives of resistance movements met in Asmara from May 27th to July 14th, 2007 to reach a unified position at this critical stage of their struggle. The following movements participated in the deliberations:
1- SLA/M – (Khames Abdalla Command). 2- SLM/A – Unity Command. 3- Revolutionary Democratic Front Forces. (RDFF). 4- National Movement for Reform & Development (NMRD). 5- Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SFDA).
Following extensive and continuous discussions, the movements agreed on the following steps:-
1. Establishing a united front to deal with the crisis in Darfur and the Sudan; and appeal to all other movements to contribute to unity efforts.
2. Setting-up a unified internal structure for the front with a Leadership Council (LC), specialized departments and Consultative Council to lead negotiations efforts, political and military struggles.
3. Creating a Joint Military Command.
4. Chairmanship of the LC is rotational between Heads of Movements (each for six months duration).
5. The LC will appoint a negotiating team that will be issued a common position.
6. The LC is the highest authority of the ULFD and its decisions are taken collectively.
For the purposes of rendering this agreement operational, the LC decided to assign Cdr Khames Abdalla Abakr to Chair the first round of six month rotation. Moreover the LC has established five specialized departments to shoulder executive responsibilities.
ULFD would to express its gratitude to President Isaias Afwerki and the State of Eritrea together with Libya and Chad, the core group of the regional initiative and under whose auspices our meetings took place. Our deep appreciation is extended to the SPLM/A & GOSS for their continued engagement and kind invitation. Particular recognition is due to the internal community represented by the UN, the EU and the AU for their concern and support.
Asmara, July 14th 2007.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Five Darfur rebel groups agree to unite
Sat Jul 14, 2007 2:07PM EDT
By Jack Kimball
ASMARA (Reuters) - Five Darfur rebel groups agreed on Saturday to unite ahead of possible peace talks to end a four-year conflict in the region which so far has defied resolution, in part because of fractious rebel groups.
In a statement to reporters, the new group, the United Front for Liberation and Development (UFLD), called on other rebels in Sudan's western region to join them.
"This announcement of the formation of the UFLD is preparation for that eventuality (the peace talks) once it takes place," said Sherif Herir, a top leader in one of two Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) factions that signed the agreement in Asmara.
"The door is open for any movements to join," he added.
The Darfur rebels fractured into more than a dozen armed groups after an unpopular peace deal last year with Khartoum that only one faction signed.
International experts estimate that some 200,000 people have died in Darfur in what the United States has termed genocide.
The violence flared after mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in 2003 accusing Sudan's central government of neglecting the remote, arid western region. Khartoum mobilized brutal militias, called Janjaweed, to quell the revolt. Khartoum denies supporting the Janjaweed puts the death toll at 9,000.
The new rebel group includes two SLA factions, the Revolutionary Democratic Front Forces, the National Movement for Reform and Development and Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance.
The announcement came one day after the rebels met the U.N. envoy for Sudan, Jan Eliasson, ahead of a meeting in Libya this weekend aimed at advancing peace talks among Darfur's rebel groups.
U.N. and African Union envoys have also set a self-imposed August deadline to launch peace negotiations.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki announced on Saturday that Asmara would attend the meeting in the Libyan capital -- scheduled for July 15-16, which would include regional and international envoys discussing the shape of new peace talks.
In talks with Eliasson, Eritrea's leader said more must be done to resolve the conflict in Darfur.
"The president called for stepped-up endeavors so that the Tripoli meeting may reach a joint consensus for the coming forum regarding endeavors to resolve the Darfur issue," said a statement in an Eritrean government newspaper.
Under sustained international pressure, Sudan agreed last month to a combined U.N.-AU peacekeeping force of more than 20,000 troops and police to bolster the cash-strapped AU force of 7,000 already operating in Darfur. The AU troops have failed to stem the violence.
By Jack Kimball
ASMARA (Reuters) - Five Darfur rebel groups agreed on Saturday to unite ahead of possible peace talks to end a four-year conflict in the region which so far has defied resolution, in part because of fractious rebel groups.
In a statement to reporters, the new group, the United Front for Liberation and Development (UFLD), called on other rebels in Sudan's western region to join them.
"This announcement of the formation of the UFLD is preparation for that eventuality (the peace talks) once it takes place," said Sherif Herir, a top leader in one of two Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) factions that signed the agreement in Asmara.
"The door is open for any movements to join," he added.
The Darfur rebels fractured into more than a dozen armed groups after an unpopular peace deal last year with Khartoum that only one faction signed.
International experts estimate that some 200,000 people have died in Darfur in what the United States has termed genocide.
The violence flared after mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in 2003 accusing Sudan's central government of neglecting the remote, arid western region. Khartoum mobilized brutal militias, called Janjaweed, to quell the revolt. Khartoum denies supporting the Janjaweed puts the death toll at 9,000.
The new rebel group includes two SLA factions, the Revolutionary Democratic Front Forces, the National Movement for Reform and Development and Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance.
The announcement came one day after the rebels met the U.N. envoy for Sudan, Jan Eliasson, ahead of a meeting in Libya this weekend aimed at advancing peace talks among Darfur's rebel groups.
U.N. and African Union envoys have also set a self-imposed August deadline to launch peace negotiations.
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki announced on Saturday that Asmara would attend the meeting in the Libyan capital -- scheduled for July 15-16, which would include regional and international envoys discussing the shape of new peace talks.
In talks with Eliasson, Eritrea's leader said more must be done to resolve the conflict in Darfur.
"The president called for stepped-up endeavors so that the Tripoli meeting may reach a joint consensus for the coming forum regarding endeavors to resolve the Darfur issue," said a statement in an Eritrean government newspaper.
Under sustained international pressure, Sudan agreed last month to a combined U.N.-AU peacekeeping force of more than 20,000 troops and police to bolster the cash-strapped AU force of 7,000 already operating in Darfur. The AU troops have failed to stem the violence.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Sudan 'resumes bombing in Darfur'
Sudan's government has resumed bombing in the country's troubled western region of Darfur, says US special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios.
Mr Natsios urged Sudan to stop its campaign and respect a 2004 ceasefire.
He said the bombing was focused on the Jebel Marra region, a stronghold of one of the rebel faction leaders, Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nour.
Some 200,000 people have died in Darfur in the past four years, while 2m have fled their homes, the UN says.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says no-one was available from the Sudanese government to comment on Mr Natsios' claims.
'Warlordism'
"After a halt in the bombing between the beginning of February and the end of April in 2007, the Sudanese government has resumed bombing in Darfur," Mr Natsios said.
He also accused rebel groups of descending into "criminality and warlordism".
"Some rebel leaders are cynically obstructing the peace process and the United States government is very disturbed by this. It needs to end now," he said.
The US special envoy's comments come as Britain, France and Ghana circulate a draft resolution to the UN security Council for a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation for Darfur.
The Sudanese government finally agreed to allow a 20,000-strong hybrid force into the region after months of pressure from the international community.
There are also moves to get the government and the rebels back to peace talks in the next few months.
Government officials say they are more than ready for talks.
A widely unpopular peace deal was signed last year by one of the three negotiating factions but the groups have now splintered and many are calling for fresh negotiations.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6898158.stm
Published: 2007/07/13 17:24:18 GMT
Mr Natsios urged Sudan to stop its campaign and respect a 2004 ceasefire.
He said the bombing was focused on the Jebel Marra region, a stronghold of one of the rebel faction leaders, Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nour.
Some 200,000 people have died in Darfur in the past four years, while 2m have fled their homes, the UN says.
The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says no-one was available from the Sudanese government to comment on Mr Natsios' claims.
'Warlordism'
"After a halt in the bombing between the beginning of February and the end of April in 2007, the Sudanese government has resumed bombing in Darfur," Mr Natsios said.
He also accused rebel groups of descending into "criminality and warlordism".
"Some rebel leaders are cynically obstructing the peace process and the United States government is very disturbed by this. It needs to end now," he said.
The US special envoy's comments come as Britain, France and Ghana circulate a draft resolution to the UN security Council for a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation for Darfur.
The Sudanese government finally agreed to allow a 20,000-strong hybrid force into the region after months of pressure from the international community.
There are also moves to get the government and the rebels back to peace talks in the next few months.
Government officials say they are more than ready for talks.
A widely unpopular peace deal was signed last year by one of the three negotiating factions but the groups have now splintered and many are calling for fresh negotiations.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6898158.stm
Published: 2007/07/13 17:24:18 GMT
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