A Sudanese rebel group said Thursday it pulled out of peace talks with the transitional government, accusing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of carrying out atrocities against civilians, an early blow to negotiations that had just resumed in Juba.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are led by Gen. Mohammed Hamadan Dagalo, a deputy head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, who also leads the government delegation to the peace talks.
The faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Gen. Abdel-Aziz Adam al-Hilu, said it withdrew from the peace talks after the mediation team failed to meet its demand before the Juba talks could resume.
Al-Hilu’s faction is the largest rebel group based in the Nuba Mountains and South Kordofan regions.
Ammar Amoun, head of the movement’s delegation to the talks, told reporters that they won’t resume talks unless the transitional government changes the leader of its delegation to the peace talks.
“We have decided to withdraw today. We won’t be part of the talks unless the government changes the leader of its delegation, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo,” said Ammar Amoun. “We are not targeting Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as a person, but he is the commander of the Rapid Support Forces that are committing crimes against innocent citizens.”
“We condemn the activities of the Rapid Support Forces and its frequent attacks on innocent civilians. We consider the Rapid Support Forces as anti-peace. So the commander of the Rapid Support Forces is not qualified to lead the government delegation to the peace talks,” he added.
The rebel group, however, reiterated its commitment to achieving a comprehensive peace in Sudan and reaffirmed its position on pursuing peace through the Juba peace forum.
The group demands self-determination and dismantling of the existing Islamic sharia state.
Under the 30-year rule of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan claimed to have laws which took the Islamic law, as their main source of governance.
The transitional government has also been negotiating with other rebel groups under the opposition coalition Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF).