SLM-Minnawi denounces exclusion from proposed ceasefire talks

JUBA – The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) led by Darfur Governor Minni Arko Minnawi, has issued a strongly worded statement expressing anger at the U.S. State Department for excluding it from upcoming ceasefire talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

The United States last week invited the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebellious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for talks aimed at bringing in a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds. The SLM, as well as other groups, were not invited to the talks.

In a statement on Saturday, the SLM said it was “surprised” by the omission, arguing that as a key player in the ongoing conflict, it should be included in negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“Since we in the joint force consider ourselves one of the main participating parties and influential in the war, we were surprised by this intentional omission by the US State Department,” said Al-Sadiq Ali Al-Nour, the movement’s official spokesperson.

The SLM warned that the Geneva talks would be futile without the participation of all relevant parties.

“The statement considered the exclusion of the movement as unacceptable and predicted that the Geneva talks would not lead to anything in the absence of well-known parties present in the heart of the battles and who have made all possible sacrifices,” Al-Nour said.

The movement urged the US to include the SLM in the talks, arguing that excluding any party would only prolong the conflict.

“The seriousness in stopping the war is to listen to the views of all participating parties,” the statement said.

The SLM also criticized the US for treating the SAF and the RSF equally, arguing that the RSF is a rebel group that should not be given the same legitimacy as the government.

“The worst thing is that the invitation equated between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces militia, which rebelled against the state,” the statement said.

“It was incumbent upon all regional and international parties seeking to stop the war and achieve peace to extend the invitation to the Sudanese government, representing the state, and not the army if America, the United Nations, or the African Union recognize the legitimacy of the government and recognize the state of Sudan,” it added.