November 12, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Four rebel groups agreed Friday to overthrow the government of the National Congress Party (NCP) and to establish a democratic state based on the voluntary unity and neutrality of religion on political matters.

Rebel forces sit on a vehicle as they guard during the visit of JSR Ibrahim Gambari to Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra (West Darfur), on March 18, 2011 (Reuters)

Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the two main factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) and Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) announced the establishment of a new alliance called the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF).

The statement said that RFF is resolved to bring down the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) through popular and military means. They also announced their determination to fight the regime in all the Sudan’s regions including the capital Khartoum.

The 11 November text is signed by Abul Gassim Al-Haj for the SLM-AW, Ahmed Tugud for the JEM, Al-Rayah Mahmoud representing the SLM-MM and Yasir Arman for the SPLM-N instead of Ramadan Hassan Nimir, who inked a deal on 7 August.

In August, JEM deputy chairman Ahmed Adam Bakheit who represented his group at the talks did not sign the deal but said the group remained committed to the process. At the time, JEM voiced some reserves over the wording of the document on the issue of separation between religion and politics.

However, November’s version of the deal seems similar to what the SLM groups and SPLM-N announced on 8 September.

Sources close to the talks said the parties felt the need to finalise the political agreement before to engaging in joint military operations. The difference over the language of the text should not hinder the activation of the deal particularly the future Sudanese constitution would be decided in future talks, the sources said.

The joint statement released after the signing of the deal says the four representatives of the rebel groups are the members of a political committee. It was also announced that a military committee is formed to lead the alliance forces but no name was disclosed.

The rebels further said the leaders of their groups will meet soon to endorse formally the institutions of the new alliance and to complete the appointments of the political and military positions.

The Sudanese army recently seized Kurmuk town, last SPLM-N stronghold in southern Blue Nile state where hostilities started last September. The army also repelled yesterday an attack carried out by the rebel group in South Kordofan. It was reported that the regular forces inflicted huge loses on the assailants led by SPLM-N deputy chairman Abdel Aziz el-Hilu.

The situation in Darfur has remained calm for several months. The only development was the return of JEM leader, Khalil Ibrahim from Libya, where he was for more than a year. The government says the rebel leader received military and financial support from Gaddafi before the fall of his regime.

The alliance members called on the Sudanese opposition forces to ’reject the partial settlements and to adopt a comprehensive perspective to change the center of power in Khartoum.’

They also said they will contact ’the Sudanese forces of change that work to overthrow the regime, including political forces and civil society organisations to reach a common platform and a national consensus," for the post- Bashir’s regime.

The main opposition forces remained insensible to the calls of the rebel groups for military action against the government. However, the ruling party accused the Popular Congress Party of Hassan al-Turabi of supporting the rebel groups.

The International Community called on the government and rebel groups to negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflicts. The South Kordofan and Blue Nile conflicts and the eight year war in Darfur might cause a new war between the north and South Sudan which has been independent since July.

Khartoum accuses Juba of supporting the rebel groups in a proxy war over the control of Abyei area and other disputed border regions. On the other hand Juba accuses Khartoum of backing the rebel groups in the South Sudan to undermine the political stability in the newly independent republic and to re-annex it to the north again.

(ST)