Security Briefing: Sudan Liberation Movement Disputes with Government and FFC

Overview

Despite the ceasefire agreement between the government and the rebels, resolving conflict in Sudan not only remains elusive, but it is getting more complicated. As expected from a broad, wide-ranging coalition, the Forces of Freedom and Change - a collection of political parties and rebel movements opposed to Al-Bashir's regime - is divided over how to pursue peace. These divides are being played out publicly.

*SLM-AW = Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdel-Wahid Nur faction

*The Sudan Revolutionary Front, which includes the SLM-AW, is part of the FFC coalition.

SLM-AW refuses to recognise transitional government

After meeting with prime minister Hamdok in Paris, a factional leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement Abdel-Wahid Nur reiterated his refusal to join peace negotiations, because he does not recognise Hamdok's government nor its constitution. (Sudan Tribune, 29 September).

Al-Nur said the transitional government must first:

  • Disband government militias

  • Compensate for conflict-affected civilians

  • Return land grabbed under al-Bashir’s regime and hand him over to the International Criminal Court

  • Hold a referendum on the transitional constitution

SLM-AW rejects confidence building measure

As a confidence-building measure, Sudan's sovereign council (which has 5 FFC civilian representatives and no rebels) dropped 8 Darfuri rebel death sentences. The rebels were from the Sudan Liberation Army (Abdel-Wahid Nur faction). (AFP, September 19).

However, the SLM-AW response to the confidence-building measure reflects how tense the divide is. They said that the decision has no value and reflects the same approach used by Al-Bashir's regime to confuse the public and evade international law. (Sudan Tribune, 20 September).

The SLM-AW also claimed that promises to release 18 other rebels were not followed, and called for the sovereign council to address the root causes of the Darfur crisis.

Internal disputes between rebels and civilians in the FFC

With the rebel movements feeling that they have been excluded from the transitional process, former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, an FFC leader, added fuel to the fire. Sudan Tribune (21 September) reported that al-Mahdi called for the rebels to accept that the revolution was achieved peacefully, before engaging in the political process in Sudan.

The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) then dismissed Al-Mahdi's calls for a peace conference inside Sudan, arguing that his proposed solution is insufficient for broader conflict issues. (Sudan Tribune, 25 September). Instead, the SRF said it will hold public debates in Sudan. Their belief is that meaningful public participation and interaction with masses in peace-making process is best way to address public interests. (Sudan Tribune, 26 September).

To further complicate matters, an FFC spokesman said that the ceasefire agreement in the Juba Declaration contradicts the new constitution - as it delays the formation of parliament and the appointment of state governors until the peace process is concluded. (Sudan Tribune, 29 September).