US President George Bush urged Mr. Minni Minnawi, leader of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), the main rebel group in western Sudan’s Darfur region to work towards building support in the region. Mr. Bush also told Mr. Minnawi, during their meeting at the White House, that he should stop instigating violence. The SLA is the only rebel group to sign a peace pact with the government. Mr. Minnawi was called upon to ally with the two other Darfuri rebel groups which have not yet signed the peace agreement. According to them the terms were inadequate.



The rebellion, which started three-and- a-half-years ago, has left tens of thousands of people dead while about two million have fled their homes in the Darfur region.



The Sudanese Government remains strongly opposed to the idea of a UN force replacing the African Union force which is seen as too small and too poorly funded to be effective. However Mr. Minnawi has no objection to a UN force.



The SLA-government peace deal has had an effect in some areas but fighting between the rival rebel factions has led to renewed violence.



Mr. Minnawi is to become senior assistant to the military President, Mr. Omar el-Bashir, which would make him the head of what will be called the Darfur Authority.



Once the terms of the peace accord are implemented the administration will run as an autonomous part of Sudan.



The African nations are in no way different from countries practically the world over. They also are suffering because of the overriding zeal of some individuals who for the sake of a title and the benefits that go with it are killing thousands of their countrymen and rendering many more homeless. When will such individuals realize that bullets will not bring peace and prosperity to those for whom they are supposedly fighting for? If such individuals really have the welfare of their countrymen at heart they would ensure that they are not caught between crossfire. Instead they would make the first move for a peaceful resolution of their grievances. And the sooner they realize this simple truth the a happier they and their countrymen would be.



Via: BBC