Sudan’s constitutional amendments committee racked by differences
December 23, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sharp differences have raged within the parliamentary committee tasked with amending the Sudanese constitution leading to the resignation of two of its members.
He urged the legislative body to approve necessary and urgent amendments to some articles of the constitution, acknowledging the existence of wrong practices in the implementation of the decentralized governance.
Last month the Sudanese presidency deposited new amendments to the 2005 transitional constitution with the parliament, which allows the president to appoint and dismiss state governors.
The National Assembly formed a 55-member subcommittee headed by MP and former presidential legal affairs adviser, Badria Suleiman, to review the proposed amendments.
Awatif al-Ja’ali, member of the committee said in press statements on Monday she resigned because the committee has not adhered to its regulations and mandate.
She told reporters that the committee introduced 18 new amendments other than the ones proposed by the presidency, considering the move a violation to the committee’s mandate.
Al-Ja’ali pointed that the committee agreed to the presidential amendments but said the other ones relating to social security funds, judiciary and general prosecution were not part of the proposed amendments.
Meanwhile, the MP from the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP), Ismail Hussein, asked the speaker of the parliament to absolve the subcommittee tasked with reviewing the constitutional amendments.
He criticized in press statements on Sunday the committee, accusing it of omitting and adding items to the constitution but did not name these items.
He described the committee’s move to introduce new amendments to the constitution which were not part of the ones deposited by the presidency as “dangerous” and a violation of its mandate.
Hussein said the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) doesn’t have the right to amend the constitution as it pleases, denying that the committee has the legal right to introduce new amendments because it is an exclusive authority of the president.
He asked the speaker to disband the committee for violating article (1/224) of the constitution, considering the amendments in its entirety an encroachment on the powers granted to the states by the constitution.
Hussein further refuted claims of the head of the committee that regulations allow them to initiate new amendments, saying the constitution made initiation an exclusive power of the president.
He stressed that the government did not consult with the political forces and relevant bodies in making these amendments, saying the committee listened to viewpoints of agencies that have nothing to do with appointing state governors.
(ST)