You’ll have heard of the G8 (Group of Eight industrialised countries) and perhaps G22 (group of 22 developing countries that have lined up against the United States and European Union in world trade talks). But do you know who G19 are?
No, it’s not another club of nations nor the latest “boy band” to hit the charts. It’s actually one of two recently formed rebel groups in Darfur, so called because it was formed by 19 members of and advisors to the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) at peace talks in Abuja who then broke away from the SLA leadership.
In May, a peace accord was signed between the Sudanese government and an SLA faction led by Minni Arcua Minnawi (now a special assistant to the president), but it was rejected by the leader of a rival SLA faction, Abdel Wahed Mohammed al-Nur, and another rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Not surprisingly, perhaps, that deal has had an unsettling impact on the rebel landscape, as well as causing resentment among many Darfuris, leading to increased violence and a more difficult operating environment for aid agencies.
Oxfam, which has had to close some of its offices in north Darfur, has pointed to growing fighting between rebel factions as one of the reasons for the deterioration in security - and there are fears this could get worse.
So who are the main rebel groups, and what do they want? Here’s a quick overview:
SLA (Minnawi’s faction): This is the only rebel group that has signed the peace accord, with Minnawi since being appointed as special assistant to the president. This makes him number four in the Khartoum hierarchy, and number one in Darfur - meaning he would head a provisional government planned for Darfur. His group has been accused by rights organisation Amnesty International of killing and raping civilians to try to force them to support the unpopular accord.
SLA (al-Nur’s faction): This group rejected the deal, and there are reports that al-Nur may have been toppled by commanders in the field. This faction is popular in camps for the displaced as al-Nur is a Fur and thus belongs to Darfur’s largest ethnic group.
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM): This group also rejected the deal. JEM is not particularly strong on the ground, and according to the head of the U.N.’s Sudan mission, Jan Pronk, during the talks it seemed to have had its eye more on gaining power in Khartoum than peace in Darfur.
National Redemption Front (NRF): The recently formed NRF is
a coalition of rebels opposed to the peace deal, including JEM, former commanders from both SLA factions (al-Nur has disassociated himself from the group) and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance.
The Sudan Tribune’s website has a copy of
NRF’s founding declaration, including its objectives. It calls for “a just system of sharing wealth and power between the various regions of Sudan”, “regional self rule” and “fair participation” in national politics.
The NRF now holds sway in much of north Darfur. It has reportedly been involved in offensive actions, such as an attack on a town in North Kordofan and a military base belonging to Minnawi’s faction in Sayah. This week it said it had shot down a Sudanese government bomber, but the government denied the report.
G19: Originally formed by 19 SLA members and advisors present at the Abuja peace talks who split with the leadership. They have gained support among those who oppose the deal, and are based in the northwest of north Darfur. They have reportedly been attacked by Minnawi, and are said to be closing ranks with the National Redemption Front.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
