Sudan’s NUP appoints Mahdi’s daughter as deputy chairperson
July 5, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) on Saturday has appointed, Meriam al-Mahdi, daughter of the party leader, al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, as deputy chairperson.
Several NUP leaders blame al-Mahdi for appointing his sons and daughters in leadership positions and accuse him of preparing them to bequeath the party at the expense of its historic leadership.
Al-Mhadi has 10 sons and daughters including Um Salama, Randa, Meriam, Rabah, Zeineb, Tahra, Abdel-Rahman, Mohamed Ahmed, Bushra, and Siddig.
His daughters have been engaged into politics since early time particularly Meriam and Rabah while two of his sons, Abdel-Rahman and Bushra, are army officers.
Abdel-Rahman was appointed as presidential assistant in 2011.
Meriam, said in a WhatsApp message that the institution of the presidency is comprised of an unspecified number of deputies, advisors, and assistants, pointing they are appointed by the party leader according to the NUP constitution.
She added that the party formed a higher regulatory committee to look into the structure of the institution of the presidency, general secretariat, and politburo and make its recommendations.
Meriam noted the committee recommended that the number of deputies must not exceed 4 and should include at least one woman, addinging the institution of the presidency accepted the recommendation and embarked on completing its structure following the recent meeting of the central commission.
Accordingly, said Meriam a fourth deputy has been appointed besides Mohamed Abdallah Al-Douma, Siddig Ismail, and Fadl Allah Burma Nasser as well as several advisors and assistants.
(ST)