Sudan: Rebels Form Alliance against Khartoum Government

By Eunice Kilonzo

NYALA---Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region and in the troubled border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan have formed an alliance to overthrow the government of President Omar al-Bashir, a statement released by the rebels said. The alliance, called the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, is bent on "toppling the regime of the [Sudan's ruling] National Congress Party with all possible means" and replacing it with a democratic system, the groups said in the joint statement last week.

"This is a military and political alliance. We will co-ordinate fighting to end this government which wants no peace," said Ibrahim el-Hilu, a spokesman for one faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, a rebel group in Darfur.

It comes nearly a week after Bashir visited Kurmuk in Blue Nile after his troops seized the town from a branch of the Sudan People's Liberation Army North (SPLA-N).

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has condemned the new alliance between four Sudanese rebel groups active in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The rebel groups formed the coalition in order to overthrow Khartoum’s government. The head of the UN Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, said during a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday that the rebel alliance is counterproductive and could spark further violence.

Ban Ki-moon said he “condemns the reported establishment of a new military alliance of Darfur rebel movements and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, calling for the use of force against the Government."

The remarks by the rebel groups have raised concern over the stability and progress of both Sudan and the new state, South Sudan. This is because; the two states have been almost constantly at odds since the south became independent in July. For instance, Sudan has accused South Sudan, of helping set up the rebel alliance, a charge which South Sudan denies. Ban Ki-Moon also expressed deep concern over the war of words between the two capitals and condemned the bombing of the Yida area in Unity State last Thursday by the Sudanese army.

There are fears that attacks against the north by the rebel groups might push the Sudanese army to attack Juba and ignite a new war in South Sudan. The alliance could also lead to a proxy war between the two countries due to the historical links between Sudan People’s Liberation Movement members in the two countries.

Khartoum accuses the South Sudan ruling party of using the northern rebels to establish a security belt to protect its oil fields and prevent potential support to rebel groups in the South.

The UN Secretary-General urged the rebel forces from the two sides to refrain from the use of force saying political talks only can resolve conflicts but not war. Ladsous further urged the two countries to quickly resolve outstanding issues over borders and the sharing of oil revenue during negotiations that are set to resume next week in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.