Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum for Justice and Equality

It is now almost half a century since Sudan gained its independence in 1956; however, all the national governments that came to power during this time have failed considerably to bring justice, stability, peace and development to the Nuba Mountains region. These governments also have failed to find tangible solutions to the country's most chronic problems, but instead they played a major role in destroying the infrastructures, the country economy and forcing many Sudanese to leave the country and among these highly qualified individuals which the country needs. In addition all these governments have engaged the Sudanese people in continuous civil wars that created nothing except destruction of the country, division among communities and political instability since independence up to the present day.

The successive governments which ruled the country, including the present regime in power in Khartoum, all have embarked on a deliberate policy of 'divide and rule' between the Sudanese people. They also created racial prejudices and religious intolerance in a diverse country - not to mention the deliberate policies of political and economic marginalization of certain indigenous groups in Sudan. When the situation reached a boiling point and became intolerable the people of these regions resorted to arm struggle, defending their collective and legitimate rights. Among these groups are the people of the Nuba Mountains, who have been economically, politically marginalized and religiously and culturally discriminated have no option except to take up arms and sacrifice themselves cheaply to achieve their full rights as true indigenous people in a diverse country dominated politically and economically by a small number of elites. The people of the Nuba Mountains are still committed to the struggle to regain their fundamental rights and to restore their dignity. The struggle in the Nuba Mountains took different legitimate approaches, including lobbying and advocacy campaigning regionally and internationally for the plight of the people in the Nuba Mountains region, which brought about the recognition of the international community to the Nuba cause.

Despite all the efforts exerted by the Nuba people and considerable sacrifice made by them towards their cause, which gained recognition by the international community, however, our issues have not been address properly at Naivasha Peace Agreement signed by the Sudan Government and the SPLA/SPLM. Naivasha Peace Accord had failed to address most important issues which are paramount to Nuba Mountains cause and many issues were left unresolved. The Agreement reached in Naivasha on power-sharing for the Nuba Mountains gave the SPLM 45% and the Government 55% of regional power, which means the two Parties have given themselves the right to divide the region between them without consulting or taking into account the views of the people of the Nuba Mountains. This is passive and dangerous precedence that could lead to the Nuba Mountains region being divided between Northern and Southern state, particularly if the people of the South chosen at referendum to opt for separation. In conclusion, the Naivasha Agreement had totally marginalized the Nuba Mountains. We believe that the coming interim period will be a difficult and a treacherous one which will require the unity of the people of the Nuba Mountains to face challenges ahead. They need to come together to stand firm against any policy designed to marginalize, or weaken or divide the Nuba Mountains region.

For the sake of maintaining our ancestral lands, our collective rights and the right to maintain our divert cultural heritage from being destroyed by the central government policy, we have decided to establish Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum (NMDF), as one of the series of a continual struggle of the people of Nuba Mountains to achieve their basic rights in Sudan. NMDF is a political body for the people of the Nuba Mountains of different political shades, ethnicity, and religion, social and cultural background. The Forum prime aim is to unite and bring together the people of the Nuba Mountains to stand behind their cause. NMDF aims to bring together the views of the people of the Nuba Mountains to achieve democracy, social justice and equality between the people in the region. The Forum will also work to regain the basic rights taken away from the people, including the historical name "Nuba Mountains", which represent the history and heritage of the region.

This Forum is established on a clear and solid aims and one of these aims is that the Forum will be a platform where people can debate and articulate their political issues and most importantly to bring people in the region together, particularly at present people in the region are so much divided due to the policy of central government, which is geared to divide the region. The Forum will be open for people to debate important issues in a more scientific and democratic approach, and away from the influence of others and refrain from others agenda, in order to achieve our noble goals and better future for our region.

Nuba Mountains Democratic Forum is a political organization. It is opened to all citizens of the Nuba Mountains regardless of their ethnic, religious and political background, who are concerned about the future of the region. And they also believe in the principles expressed in the Manifesto, which is geared to unite the people of the Nuba Mountains and work for the promotion and the prosperity of the region and its people. NMDF will work in collaboration with organizations and bodies of the other marginalized areas which have similar aims, to achieve democracy, justice and equality in the Sudan.

Long live the struggle of the people of Nuba Mountains and long live the struggle of the Sudanese people for freedom, justice, democracy and peace

Signed by:

1. Suleiman Musa Rahhal (United Kingdom) 2. Musa Ghandeil Ali Kuku (United Kingdom)

3. Ahmed Zeiber Rahhal (United Kingdom) 4. Moawyia Habib Aldaw (United Kingdom)

5. Ishraga Abdel-Allah Jumla (United Kingdom) 6. Amir Yousif (United Jingdom)

7. Ali Hassan Sharief (Canada)

8. Nour Tawer Kafi A/Rass (Canada) 9. Shaker El-Amin (Canada)

10. Kuku Jagdoul (USA) 11. Salih Yousif Kaki (Holland)

12. Amal Samoura Jumain ( Holland)

13. Mohammed Hussein (Holland)

14. Amna Hassan Naji (Holland) 15. Awad Hagaz Sukkar (Holland)

16. Monir Abdel-Allah (Holland)

17. Guma Kabashi (Holland)

18. Abdel-Aziz Diga (Switzerland)

19. Sa'adia Ahmed Ismail ( Switzerland)

20. Meirghani Kamil Somit (Switzerland) 21. Sabir Baser (Switzerland)

22. Abdel Rahman Anjlo (Germany)

23. Khalid Idris Kuku (Germany) 24. Philip Kuwa (Germany)

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