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Sudanese army ready to destroy last rebel stronghold in Darfur: president

Xinhua, April 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir said Sunday that the Sudanese army is ready to destroy the last rebel stronghold in Darfur.

The president was referring to Jebel Marra where clashes between the army and the rebel, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), have been taking place.

Al-Bashir addressed a mass rally on Sunday in Zalingei, the capital city of Darfur and the birth town of the SLM's rebel leader, Abdul-Wahid Mohamed Nur, who refuses to participate in talks with Khartoum.

Al-Bashir criticized Abdul-Wahid, saying he has been "living in five-star hotels for years in Paris, as the citizens of Darfur suffer from the ongoing war."

He reiterated that the war in Darfur is over, except for a few minor areas, saying "we resorted to armed conflict after the rebels, led by Abdul-Wahid, refused to sign numerous peace accords."

Al-Bashir also vowed to compensate citizens affected by the war by providing them with means of living, stating that they are free to return to their home villages or stay in other areas.

The Sudanese president stressed that Darfur's administrative status referendum, slated for April 11, is a constitutional right via which Darfur's population will decide whether they want one state or the current five.

On Friday Al-Bashir started touring Darfur's five states, just a few days ahead of the upcoming referendum.

Major Darfur rebel movements reject participating in the referendum, unless Khartoum fulfils their demands of reaching a political solution with the armed groups and financially compensating citizens affected by the conflict.

The Sudanese government stressed that the referendum must be implemented according to the Abuja peace deal which Khartoum signed with the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)/ Minni Minnawi faction in 2006.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, signed by the government and the Liberation and Justice Movement in 2011, stipulates conducting a referendum in Darfur, and that its outcome will be included in the country's permanent constitution.

According to the agreement, if Darfur citizens vote for one state, then the Transitional Darfur Regional Authority (TDRA) will form a constitutional committee to determine the authority of Darfur's regional governments.

However, if Darfur citizens vote for the current five states, then, according to the agreement, the current status of the five states will remain as they are, and the TDRA will be dissolved. Endit