| Organisation |
Eastern Front |
| Alternate Name |
Eastern Sudan Front |
| Abbreviation |
EF |
| Parent |
Signatories to the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement - ESPA - 2006 |
| u.r.l. |
http://lite.alertnet.org/printable.htm?URL=/db/crisisprofiles/SD_INS.htm |
| email |
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| Country |
Sudan |
| Location |
Port Sudan |
| Address |
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| Postal Address |
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| Telephone |
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| Management u.r.l. |
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| Fax |
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| Sector |
Military Combat Forces |
| Organisation Type |
African Umbrella |
| Status |
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| Stated Role |
The Eastern Front is a coalition of rebel groups operating in eastern Sudan along the border with Eritrea, particularly the states of Red Sea and Kassala.<P>The Southern Rebels SPLA were the Main group in the Coalition but were forced to leave after signing a peace deal with the GOS in 2005. Their place was taken by two tribal based groups of the Beja and Rashaida people the larger Beja Congress and smaller Rashaida Free Lions.The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a rebel group from Darfur in the west also Joined. |
| Activities |
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| Geographical Focus |
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| Notes |
Although the Beja Congress, a political party formed by intellectuals from the Beja community, was created as far back as 1953, the most recent alliance of the Beja and the Rashaida came about in 2005 when they formed the Eastern Front – joining the Beja Congress and the military based Rashaida Free Lions. The relationship was formalised into the Eastern Front after the January 2005 Port Sudan strikes, which saw large-scale protests by dock workers and other civilians against the discrimination of the Beja people in local and national government. Security forces were soon deployed to the region and the situation claimed some twenty lives in ensuing clashes. [ Retrieved on 14-06-07 - http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/SITREP15012007SUDAN.PDF?link_id= ] |