Khartoum — The leader of the Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Khalil Ibrahim, has been killed as he was leading his forces on the way to the Republic of South Sudan, according to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Ibrahim's death at the age of 53 was confirmed to Sudan Tribune by a number of well-placed sources. Whereas the sources failed to specify the manner or location of his death, JEM was expected to issue a statement in the coming hours confirming the death of its leader.
News of his death, which was announced at a late hour on Saturday by SAF's official spokesman Al-Sawarmi Saad, came in the heels of reports that he was injured in clashes between SAF and his forces in North Kordofan State.
JEM's forces launched in the last two days a string of attacks on remote areas largely devoid of regular forces along the borders between north Darfur state and north Kordofan state.
According to North Darfur's governor Osman Kibir, JEM's forces led by Khalil himself attacked around 20 villages in these areas and carried out extensive pillaging and killing of citizens.
Similarly, North Darfur's governor Mu'tasim Mirghani told Sudan national TV that Khalil's forces attacked Arman area, the epicenter of gold-mining activities, and destroyed telecommunication towers. He added that the paramilitary Popular Defense Forces repulsed the assailants and managed to destroy four vehicles.
Gibreel Adam Bilal, JEM's spokesman, told Sudan Tribune earlier on Thursday that their forces had arrived in north Kordofan state and were on their way to the capital Khartoum in a bid to topple the government. However, he denied allegations of killing civilians.
JEM's claim of marching on Khartoum called to memory the daring attack they staged on May 11, 2008 on the Sudanese capital.
In a statement carried out on Sunday by SUNA, Sudan's official news agency, SAF announced that its forces had managed in a "heroic operation" to kill Khalil and a number of his comrades after intensive reconnaissance that led to besieging him and his forces in Wad Banda locality in North Kordofan.
The statement alleged that Khalil and his group were heading towards South Sudan in order to reorganize their troops.
The Sudanese government has long accused the government of South Sudan of supporting and providing sanctuary to Darfur rebel groups. South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in July, denies the charge.
Speaking on Sunday morning to the subtly pro-government Al-Shorog channel, SAF's spokesman said that they were "100 percent certain" that Khalil Ibrahim was killed. He further said that their forces were still hunting the fleeing forces of JEM.
Ibrahim's death, which represents a major blow to the rebel group he founded and led since 2003, came less than five month since he returned to Darfur from Libya where was living in exile from May 2010.
He was forced to stay in Libya after his group boycotted peace talks with the Sudanese government in Doha and his erstwhile ally, Chadian President Idris Deby, turned his back on him following a thaw in long-strained ties between Khartoum and Ndjamena.
Following his return, JEM in late November forged an alliance dubbed the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) with two factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) mainly operating in Darfur, plus the Sudan people's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) which is fighting in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The allied groups vowed to topple the government of president Al-Bashir.
Ibrahim belongs to Al-Zagawa ethnic group, and was a former member of the ruling National Islamic Front (NIF) before he decided to side with the ousted NIF's leader Hassan Al-Turabi in the 1999 internal power struggle that pitted him against president Al-Bashir and his ex-acolytes in the NIF.
Ibrahim's group has often been linked to Al-Turabi and the Islamic ideology, but this alleged link was neither admitted by JEM nor by Al-Turabi's Popular Congress Party.
Under Ibrahim's leadership, JEM was regarded as the most organized and heavily armed Darfur rebel group.
Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 after ethnic rebel groups accused the government of marginalizing the region. According to UN estimates, 300,000 people died and 2.7 million lost their home as a result of the conflict.
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I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT WHOLE REGION LOCKED IN PEACE DEVELOPMENT AND EQUITY. WHEN WE SPEAK OF DEVELOPMENT WE NEED TOSEE THAT THE CHILDREN HAVE SECURITY . SCHOOLS THAT ARE PURPOSEFUL NOT SCHOOLS THAT SPOUSE WESTERN PROPOGANDAS AND THE SUPERIORITY OF THE WHITE RACE. WHEN I SAW THE CHILDREN OF ZIMBABWE IT SEEMED TO ME THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED THERE THEY WERE SINGING CAROLS WISHING FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS AND THESE NUNS DIRECTING THEIR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITH RHETTORIC OF AN OLD IMPERIAL TIME LONG LOST TO MODERNITY. I CAN IMAGINE THAT THIS WHY WE HAVE SUCH A DIVIDE IN SOCIAL STRUCTURES IN AFRICA. THIS NONSENSE OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS. FIRST AND FOREMOST ISLAM SEEMS BY RECKONING A CONTINUATION OF THE SCRIPTURES WE MUST COME TO TERMS THAT ALL BOOKS AND SCRIPTURES HAVE BEEN MUDDIED THERE ARE NO PURE BOOKS OF WHAT WAS SAID BY THE PROPHETS, LET US BE CLEAR ALL BOOKS HAS BEEN DILUTED TO FIT THE TIMES AND THE PURPOSES OF MEN . AFRICANS ARE BY FACT A VERY SPIRITUAL PEOPLE THEY MANTAIN A SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO KEEP THEM ON THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. WE MUST LIBERATE OUR MINDS FROM THE DIVISIVE NATURE OF HOW WE WORSHIP. WHEN CHRIST WALKED THE EARTH HE WAS AN ISRAELITE THRU AN THRU HE KEPT TO THE STRICT ISRAELITE TRADITION. I WOULD GO AS FAR AS EVEN SUGGESTING THAT CHRIST ALTHOUGH GIVEN CREDIT FOR BEING A NAZARITE HE DID TRANSGRES BY DRINKING WINE. THE STRICT CODES OF THE NAZARITE FORBIDS MAN FROM DRINKING FROM THE VINES OR ANY HUSK THERE OF. GRAPES RAISINS ARE FORBIDDEN AS WELL AS ANY STRONG DRINK. MY THOUGHTS ARE THIS WE MUST AS BLACK AFRICANS OR AS AFRICANS WITH A PURPOSE COME TO RECOGNISE THAT THEY WHOM ARE IN THE DRIVING SEATS WITH THEIR REMOTE POWERS HAVE CREATED THESE ORGANISED RELIGIONS FOR US TO IDENTIFY WITH AND CHOOSE SIDES AS THOUGH WE ARE PLAYING FOOTBALL WHILE WE CONTINUE TO MURDER AND ISOLATE EACH OTHER FROM THE TABLE OF PEACE. CHRISTIANS CAN NOT BE CHRISTIANS ESPOUSING SO MUCH WAR AND DISTABLISATIONS. WE MUST REMEBER THAT CHRIST WAS STRICTLY FOR NON VIOLENCE THEN WE MUST AS MUSLIMS REFRAIN FROM WARS OF AGRESSION AS TO NOT BECOME AS TE OPPRESSORS WHO HAVECONTINUED TO MANIPULATE US AND FORCE STRANGE AND INDECENT BEHAVIOURS UPON US. THE ART OF RAPE THE MURDERING OF CHILDREN AND THE ELDERS. WHERE DID THESE PRACTISES COME FROM. WHY ARE WE LOCKED IN SUCH BITTER FEUDS. WE MUST LAMENT OUR LOSES AND REALLY SIT DOWN AND END THESE IGNORANT WAYS OF SETTLING DISPUTES. WHAT I SEEM TO RECOGNISE IS THAT AFRICANS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO HATE SELF THIS GOES FOR BLACK PEOPLE ROUND THE GLOBE. THEY HAVE BEEN UNBDER THE SPELL THAT EVERYTHING BLACK IS NO GODD. WE HEAR WORDS LIKE BLACKMAIL. BLACK FRIDAY BLACK PLAGUE BLACK DEATH. WHAT IS AMAZING THESE CAN ALL BE ATTRIBUTED TO WHITE PEOPLE EVERY SENSE OF THE WORDS ARE WHITE BASED WHITE MAIL THEY ARE TH CORUPTORS AND BRIBERS WHO PERFORM SUCH CRUEL AND VINDICTIVE THINGS. THIS IS WHY I SAY TO BLACK MA WHEN YOU SATRIGHT AND DO NOT SWAY LEFT OR RIGHT BUT STAY ONTHE GLORY PATH YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR WHITEMALERS CAN NEVR SUCCEED AGAINST YOPU YOUR HEALTH WILL BE YOUR GUIDE THAT YOU WONT ENCOUNTER THESE BLACK PLAGUES AND DEATHS. HONETS NOBLE PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO FEEL IT IS THEIR OBLIGATION TO SEE THAT EVERYONE LIVES IN PEACE AND IS COMFORTABLE THESE ARE PRACTISES THAT ARE REWARDED. THE TEACHINGS OF THE KNIGHTS IN ENGLAND WERE TAUGHT BY BLACK RIGHTEOS MAN WHO LIVED IN EUROPE AS YOU SEE TODAY THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN LOST TO HISTORY AS IT WAS N'T THEIR OWN IT DIED AS IT CAM ETO BE JUST AAPASE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. WITH THE METHODOLOGY OF HONOUR AND RIGHETOSENESS WE FIND THAT THIS A LIFE TIME OF TEACHING THAT CAN NEVER DIE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE INGRATIATE OUR CHILDREN WITH THEY MUST AT ALL TIMES REMEMBER TO BE COURTEOUS HAVE DICPLINE HAE NOBILITY AS WE ARE ALL KINGS AND QUEENS. NOBILITY IS SOMETHING THAT IS PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION THESE THINGS ARE NOT EASIL;Y FORGOTTEN. WHEN WE SEE SUFFERATION ITS OUR DUTY TO DISMANTLE THE SUFFERING OFMTHOSE WHO ARE NOT PRVILEDGED .GREED AND LUST IS A SENTENCE OF DOOM AND MENATLLM CHASTISEMENT. OUR MIDS ARE THE ENGINES THAT GREASE OUR SOULS WE MUST AT ALL TIMES BE REDAY FOR THAT DAY THAT THE TRUMPET WILL BLOW. NIETHER YOU NOR I KNOWS THAT DAY SO WHAT WE AREB TOLD IS TO BE VIGILANT AND DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ASSIST IN MAKING THE TRANSITION EASIER. SHOUDL ALL THOSE WHO LIVE IN ALAMND FREE F STRIFE AND PAIN THEN THE LAND WILL BE SPARED FROM THE TREMORS OF DESTRUCTION. IT IS OUR JOB TO LIVE GOOD WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS IT IS OUR JOB TO SEE THAT AS MYSELF SO ARTE THOU. SHOULD I HAVE BREAD AND I SEE THAT YOU HAVE DIFFICUILTY GETTTING BREAD I SHOULD GO OUT OF MY WAY TO ENSURE THAT YOU CAN EAT JUST AS HEARTILY AS I EAT. THE DIVIDERS THAT HAVE PLAGUED AFRICA FOR CENTURIES HAVE LEFT A LEGACY OF FEAR AND DISTRUST. WE MUST OVERRIDE THESE BARIERRS THAT HAVE FORCED SO MANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS INTO IGNORANTS AND POVERTY. LET US BE CLEAR IN THE BEGINNING EVERY MAN ON THE PLANET WAS EQUALTHIS WAS THE RULE. THIS LAW HAS NOT BEEN CHANGD EXCEPT BY MEN./ MAN NUST REDEEM HIMSELF FROM THIS INIQUITY AND WICKEDNES. WE MUST CONSIDER THE RIGHT BEFORE WE ACT. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PRICE FOR THOSE WHO KNOWETH THE RIGHT BUT DOETH THE WRONG. THERE IS NO HDING PLACE FOR MANKIND. LET US BE CLEAR THE "ALMIGHTY GOD" OUR CREATOR" KNOWS WHAT IS IN OUR HEARTS BEFORE WE KNOW OURSELVES HE HAS CREATED EVERY THING WE CAN IMAGINE ON THIS PALNET. THEE IS NOT A GRAIN OF SAND THAT IS NOT COUNTED THERE IS NOT AMORSEL OF HAIR ON YOUR HEAD THAT IS NOT COUNTED. THERE IS NOT AN ATOM THAT IS NOT COUNTED EVERYTHING THAT IT TAKES TO MAKE UP CREATION IS REGISTERD IN THE HEAD OF THE ALMIGHTY". THIS IS HSI CREATION AND 2HE2 HAS DEVELOPED EVERYMINISCULE PARTICLE FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF HIS CREATION SO EVERYTHING COUNTS. WE MUST KEP IN MIND THT THIS IS HIS CREATION THIS DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU NOR I. WHAT WE MUST ENVISION IS THAT "HE2 HAS EMPOWERED US WITH THE STEWRDSHIP OF HIS BELONGINGS AND "HE" EXPECTS US TO GUIDE PROYTECT IT AS IF "HE " WAS HERE. SHOULD HE COME TODAY AND HEAR THE BABIES CRY AND SEE THE ELDERS LIVNG IN GREAT TRIBULATION WHAT WOULD BE THE RESPONSE AND WULD HE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DEFINE TODAY IN AFRICA. WHAT IS TO BE OUR LEGACY. WHAT IS IMPORTANT THAT MAN OF CHRIST IN THEIR BELIEF THAT HE CAME TO REDEEEM OUR SOULS FROM THE DEVIL SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF RIGHTEUOS NESS. RIGHETOUSNESS IS GUIDANCE FROM TEH "MOSTHIGH". THERE IS NO DIFFERNCE IN CHRISTIAN GUIDANCE OR ISLAMIC GUIDANCE THEY ARE ALL RELATING T THE SAME GOD. THE ONLY ITME WE FEEL THE DIFFERNCE IS WHEN WE SEE THAT MEN HAVE CHANGED THE RPOPERTIES OF WHAT HONOUR NOBILITY AND CONCIOUSNESS IS. TO BE CONCIOUSNES IS TO BELIEV THAT AT ANY TIME THERE COULD BE THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET SO THAT MENAS THAT WE ARTE EVER READY. WE HAVE NO FEAR FOR OUR HEARTS ARTE CLEAN AS WE TRANSGRESS NOT WE FORNICATE NOT WE SUFFERNOT THE CHILDREN TO CRY. WE PRESCRIBE NOT TO THE WAYS OF SODOMYNOR ANY ABOMINATION THAT GOES AGINST WHAT HAS BEEN PROPHESIED TO BE PROFANE. OVERSTANDING THESE GUIDANCES WHY SHOULD ANY MAN OF RIGHTEOUS UP[BRINGINGS FEAR THE LAWS OF "THE MOST HIGH GOD" THOSE LIVING IN FEAR ARE THE NON BELIVERS THE INIQUITY WORKERS THEY HAVE PRESCRIBED TO ABOMINABLE INIQUITY THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER HAVE DONE EVIL AND ARE AFRAID OF THEIR JUDGEMENT. SO THIS IS WHY WE MUST ALL COME TOGETHER AND BRING LOVE AND UN ITY TO ALL THE PEOPLE WE MUST REJOICE WITH GLADNESS FOR WE HAVE ALL SOUGHT THE GLORY OF REDEMPTION AND WE ALL S EEK SALVATION FOR WHAT I WISH FOR MYSELF IS WHAT I WISH FOR ALL THE CHILDREN. THERE CAN BE NO JOY UNTIL THERE IS AREALITY THAT WHEN THE TRUMPET IS BLOWN AND WE ARE CALLED TO ANSWER THERE WILL BE NO DISTINCTION A TO WHOM YOU WERE AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM THEIR WIL BE YOUSUL AND "THE MAJESTY" OF "THE REDEEMER" IT IS OUR DUTY TODAY TO FIND PEACE AND BRING FORWARD SALVATION. WE MUST DELIVER TO THE PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO LIVE AND BE ABLE TO SERVE THE "LORD WITH JUBILATIONAND GLADNESS. WE MUST EXTOL THE GREAT NAME OF "THE WONDERFUL MIGHTY LORD" WE MSU LET IT KNOWN THAT "HE" CAN NOT BE COMPARED TO ANY MAN THAT WALKED THE FACE OF THE EARTH AS HIS POWER IS THAT FAR EXCEEDS ANY POWER THAT WE DARE TO IMAGINE.HIS UNIVERSE IS DESIGNED FOR PURPOSE AND EVEN WHEN MEN " MOST HIGH " "HE" SHALL LAUGH AND HAVE THEM IN HIS DERISION FOR THEY HAVE ALL BECOME FILTHY AND DISHONOURABLE IN HIS SIGHT. WE MUST REFRAIN FROM BECOMING THOSE WHO ARE THE MISLED THE DISBELIEVSR WE MUST STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WE MUST STAY FAR AWAY FROMTHE DIRT OF THE SINNERS AND THE SODOMITES THEIR INIQUITY IS UPON THEIR HEAD AND THEY WILL NASWER FOR THEIR IGNOBLE DEEDS AND THIS WE MUST NOT FRET OURSELVES OF WE MUST PREPARE POURSELVES FRO THE ADY THAT NO MAN KNOWS IF MEN KNEW THAT DAY THEN WE OWULD ALL SET ASIDE FOR THAT DAY JSUT TO BE CUNTED AS THE MANY. BUT WE KNOW NOT THAT DAY IF THE CHRISTIANS WERE RIGHT THEN JEUSU WOUILD HAVE GIVEN THEM THE DAY.HE HAS NOT IF THE JEWS WERE THE CHOSEN AS THEY CLAIM THEY TOO WOULD KNOW THE DAY BUT THEY DO NOT. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS THAT DAY AND E MUST REFRAIN FROM DOING ANY ABOMINATIONS THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM SEEING THE GLORY OF OF THE "MIGHTY KING" TODAY AFRICA MUST HONOUR HIS PRECEPTS AND GIVE HOPE TO THE HOPELESS AND DENY THEM NOT THE GLORY OF LIVITY FOR WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE AND NONE WILL ESCAPE THAT "GLORIOUS AND WONDERFUL DAY" ON THAT DAY THE OPPRESSED WILL BE VINDICATED AND THE OPPRESSOR WILL BE FOUND WANTING
Dear African Brother, Please consider the fact that a lot of the problems facing Africa may be self inflicted. You may be incorrect in blaming others especially the "White Man" for everything that goes wrong with our societies.
Yes Prof. I agree most of our problems are self-inflicted, perhaps result of ignorance or outright greed. Do you think white men have hands off? White men have roles have been deep-seated. Consider historical part and you will never those references that caused Darfuri problems and similar woes on African continent. See round and their part is specticularly visible and commonplace!!!