Ethiopian Review

DAMASCUS — The leader of the newly created party of Sudan People Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) Lam Akol met with senior Syrian official during his visit to Damascus.

Akol, who traveled to Syria in his capacity as a party leader and a former foreign minister, met with the Vice president Farouk Al-Shar’a, foreign minister Ibrahim Al-Mu’alim and Information minister Mohsen Balal.

The SPLM-DC head also held talks with the assistant Secretary General of the ruling Syrian Ba’ath party Abdullah Al-Ahmar.

The Syrian officials expressed their solidarity with Sudan and rejected interference in its internal affairs, according to state media.

According to Syrian official news agency (SANA), Akol discussed current affairs in the Arab political arena as well as the situation in Sudan, Darfur and the Horn of Africa.

Akol addressed a forum at the Assad Library in Damascus on the situation in Sudan since independence.

He said that the Darfur conflict is a result of competition over water and pasture which lead to proliferation of weapons in the region.

The former foreign minister accused “regional powers” of using the Darfur crisis to pressure Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Furthermore, Akol accused US based Darfur advocacy groups of collecting donations and funds that no not reach the war stricken region.

He blamed divisions within the rebel groups for not reaching a peace agreement and ridiculed some of their demands including one region and a Vic president post.

Akol criticized the US saying that they have reneged on promises they made to Sudan following the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to normalize ties and lift sanctions.

He expressed surprise that the Washington “claims to be a friend to the SPLM but is hostile to the government of Sudan which is comprised of 28% SPLM representation”.

The SPLM-DC leader dismissed allegations made by superpowers that Khartoum is implementing the CPA saying the agreement “is on the right track”.

He said that donor countries did not provide the money pledged to help with CPA implementation.

Akol defected from the SPLM in May and formed his own party accusing its leadership of being “bankrupt” and “undemocratic”.

He was viewed by many as being close to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) putting him at odds with the SPLM.

- Sudan Tribune