Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North

Not to be confused with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in the now independent Republic of South Sudan.
Sudan People's Liberation Movement – North
حركة الشعبية لتحرير السودان-الشمال
Chairman Malik Agar
Vice chairman Abdelaziz El Hillu
Secretary-general Yasir Arman
Founded 2011 (2011)
Split from Sudan People's Liberation Movement
Ideology New Sudan
National affiliation Sudan Revolutionary Front
Party flag

Sudan People's Liberation Movement – North, (Arabic: حركة الشعبية لتحرير السودان-الشمال‎, translit. Harakat Al-Sha'abi Li-Tahrir Al-Sudan-Al-Shamal‎), or SPLM–N, is a banned political party and militant organisation in the Republic of Sudan. It is currently active primarily in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where its armed branch is engaged in an active insurgency against the government of Sudan.

History

The SPLM-N was founded by the organizations of the predominantly South Sudanese Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army that remained in Sudan following the South Sudanese vote for independence in 2011.[1] Despite the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, a low-level conflict continued in Republic of Sudan. Conflict with the central authorities has led al-Bashir to ban the party.[2] South Sudan is also said to support SPLA-N operations in Sudan, just as Sudan supports anti-government groups in South Sudan.

Resumption of Conflict

South Kordofan

On 19 July 2011, shortly after the independence of South Sudan, the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and the Justice and Equality Movement of Darfur conducted a coordinated attack against the Sudanese army at Pisea, south of the state capital of Kadugli.[3] In August, Radio Dabanga reported that the rebels were gaining ground against government forces. The conflict has led to the displacement of nearly 400,000 residents of the Nuba Mountains and surrounding areas.[4]

Blue Nile

Disputes over the rightful government of Blue Nile State led to a resumption of violence in late August/early September 2011.[5] In September and October the SPLA-N formed a government based in Kurmuk, which took control of large parts of the state.[6] The conflict in the Blue Nile has raised fears of a new refugee crisis and a return to civil war.[7][8]

In September 2012, Amnesty International reported that SPLM-N teacher and activist Jalila Khamis Koko was summoned by a prosecutor for six charges, primarily relating to state security. The organization stated that she appeared to be "held solely for her humanitarian work and for the peaceful expression of her views", and designated her a prisoner of conscience.[9] She was released after a court hearing on 20 January 2013.[10]

Aims and ideology

The party describes itself as "a Sudanese national movement that seeks to change the policies of the centre in Khartoum and to build a new centre for the benefit of all Sudanese people regardless of their religion, gender or ethnicity background".[11] Since the resumption of conflict, the party has called for negotiations and a ceasefire, however some leaders of the SPLA-N have warned of a potential second partition of the Sudan.[12]

Leadership

The party is chaired by Malik Agar, and presidential candidate Yasir Arman is the secretary-general.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.splmtoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=583:splm-pb-discusses-party-re-organization&catid=1:latest&Itemid=2
  2. ↑ Mahr, Krista (20 October 2011). "In Crumbling Sudan: Dodging Bombers with the Rebels of Blue Nile". Time World. Time. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  3. ↑ McConnell, Tristan. "Sudan rebels join forces against Khartoum". Global Post. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  4. ↑ "SPLA-North gaining ground in South Kordofan". Radio Dabanga. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Boswell, Alan (2 September 2011). "Sudan's Conflict Spreads: Is This the Start of a New Civil War?". Time World. Time. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  6. ↑ -Radio Dabanga. "SPLA-N in Control Several Blue Nile Areas". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Maasho, Aaron (14 October 2011). "Sudan's Blue Nile conflict forces painful return to Ethiopia". Reuters Africa. Reuters. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "25,000 flee Sudan's troubled Blue Nile to Ethiopia". AFP. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Activist and teacher faces death penalty". Amnesty International. 25 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "Sudan releases prisoner of conscience". Amnesty International. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  11. ↑ http://sudancatholicradio.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4471:splm-north-prepares-alternative-to-ncp&catid=2:south-sudan&Itemid=84
  12. ↑ "PLA-North General warns that Sudan risks further partition". Radio Miraya. Radio Miraya. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Malik Aggar to head SPLM in the north", Official website of the Sudan People's Liberation Moverment (accessed 21 March 2011)
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