Sudan FM comes under fire from legislative body

June 4, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The speaker of the Sudanese national assembly Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir blasted foreign minister Deng Alor for failing to show up for a briefing on his ministry’s performance.

Sudanese media reported that Alor sent his deputy Al-Samani Al-Wasila instead but the speaker rejected the replacement describing Alor’s statement as “unjustified”.

Al-Tahir said that Alor was notified on May 12th of the hearing date and did not object. He further said that the foreign minister was available at the ministry and had the prepared remarks to read but chose not to.

However Alor told Al-Sahafa independent newspaper that he did not show contempt of the parliament but had appointments with British special envoy to Sudan Michael O’Neill.

A Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) parliament member accused Al-Tahir of “double standards”.

The SPLM parliamentarian Ramadan Shamila told Al-Sahafa that the foreign ministry briefing was included in the agenda without the knowledge of the committee of assembly affairs.

Shamila said that threats by Al-Tahir against Alor “amount to war” by the parliament against the SPLM.

The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq said Alor “expressed his surprise over the sharp reaction by the speaker”.

He said that Alor will submit his report whenever the national assembly sets a date unless there is an emergency in which case he will notify the speaker.

Relations between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and SPLM are increasingly tense as the country moves to hold its first national elections next year,

Both parties have yet to agree on a set of draft laws considered crucial for elections and the South Sudan referendum in 2011.

(ST)