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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SUDAN: Rebels appeal for dialogue on Darfur insurrection

NAIROBI, 21 March 2003 (IRIN) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) rebel group has appealed to the government of Sudan to engage in dialogue regarding the rebellion in Darfur instead of seeking a military solution to the problem.

The SPLM/A said that in the context of discussions on the disputed areas of Southern Blue Nile, the Nuba mountains and Abyei, a solution to the Darfur situation could also be found.

"In resolving the issue of the three conflict areas, a correct formula to address the issues of the other marginalised areas such as Darfur and eastern Sudan in an effective and positive manner could be found," said SPLM/A spokesman, Samson Kwaje, in a statement released on Friday.

This in turn would give a new chance for a "correct unity" of the country and enhance a national consensus that did not exclude other political forces and marginalised areas, he said.

"Any attempt to misdiagnose the Darfur issue as a security rather than a political problem will result in the erroneous and fatal prescription of a military solution," he added.

"Genuine dialogue to seek a peaceful political settlement that is predicated on addressing the root causes of the political insurrection in Darfur, as it should be the case in other marginalised areas, is the only way forward," he said.

Kwaje added that the people of Darfur had a just cause regardless of whether they were of African or Arab background, in that all of them suffered from political and economic marginalisation.

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

[ENDS]

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