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Darfur Rebels Call for Seizing Oil Revenues | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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London, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) called on the UN Security Council to introduce an “oil-for-food” program similar to the one that was used in Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein. The movement said the aim behind this program is to save the displaced people and refugees who have been affected by the war in the Darfur Region, by seizing the oil revenues that Khartoum shares with the southerners and distributing them to the displaced people in Darfur.

The movement said that the National Congress Party, led by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, controls the oil revenues. The movement also called for the imposition of an air exclusion zone in the Darfur Region and for the delivery of relief aid from the states of Central Africa and Chad across the borders with Darfur.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat from Darfur by telephone, Official Spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement Ahmad Hussein Adam said that his movement presented to the international community a proposal to work out an “oil-for-food” program to provide aid for the displaced people and refugees who have been affected by the war in Darfur.

He added: “The UN Security Council must pass resolutions to control the oil revenues in Sudan. The National Congress Party benefits from these revenues in buying weapons from China and Russia and in building villas in numerous places.”

He continued: “We do not need statements of denunciation and condemnation from the UN Security Council. The council members must take action and pass powerful resolutions.”

He called on the UN Security Council to make an urgent humanitarian intervention under Chapter seven of the UN Charter and said that the Khartoum government needs effective pressure.

Adam said the south will benefit from the United Nations’ control of the oil revenues, all of which will reach the south directly from a special account, because Khartoum does not deal with this issue transparently.

He accused Beijing and Moscow of taking part in what he termed war crimes in Darfur. He said his movement denounces the stands taken by China and Russia on the deprivation of the displaced people and refugees of the relief aid after Khartoum expelled the humanitarian relief organizations.

Adam said: “Both China and Russia participate in the genocide war in Darfur, because Beijing sells arms and military vehicles to Khartoum and Russian pilots take part in the aerial bombardment and in starving the civilian population. The UN Security Council must take a stand on this issue.”

He added that the regime uses food as a weapon to defend itself and noted that depriving citizens of the necessary food to survive is regarded as genocide.

For its part, the government of the South, led by Sudanese First Vice-President Salva Kir, criticized its partner in the government in Khartoum for taking unilateral decisions on the crisis that resulted from the International Criminal Court’s move. It was referring to the fact that it was not consulted on the expulsion of the international organizations.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM] called on the National Congress Party to revoke the decision to expel 16 international NGOs from Sudan. It asked whether the foreign and humanitarian affairs ministers who belong to the SPLM have knowledge of that decision.

The SPLM warned that such major decisions that are taken without the movement’s participation will affect the partnership with the National Congress Party, led by Al-Bashir.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat from Juba by telephone, Dr Luka Biong, minister of presidential affairs in the Government of South Sudan, said the information available to his government indicates that 16 organizations were expelled from Sudan and that these organizations employ 6,500 workers who represent 40 per cent of the foreign and Sudanese workers in the relief aid organizations. He added that they provide 60 per cent of the humanitarian relief aid in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, the Blue Nile and Abyei.

Dr Luka Biong noted that a large vacuum will be created in these areas, particularly with regard to development issues with which these organizations deal and from which the citizens directly benefit.

He asked: “Is it reasonable that these organizations made all these violations in the same day and hour to be expelled?”

Dr. Biong noted that the expulsion decision came as Khartoum’s reaction to the International Criminal Court’s move to arrest Al-Bashir. He said these organizations operate in Sudan under laws, the violators of which are brought to account.

He asked: “But do the higher authorities in the national unity government know about the decision to expel the organizations? Do the foreign and humanitarian affairs ministers who represent the SPLM have knowledge of this serious decision?”

He said the government in Khartoum must reconsider this decision in order to ensure that the areas of Darfur, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Abyei will not be affected.