Sudan’s ruling party announces Bashir’s electoral programme for presidency

December 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said it has completed president Omer Hassan al-Bashir’s electoral programme for the upcoming elections stressing that it will focus on provision of services.

Bashir came to power in 1989 when, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, as he led a group of officers in a military coup that ousted the government of prime minister al-Sadiq al-Mahdi. The coup was masterminded by the National Islamic Front (NIF) of Hassan al-Turabi.

The former presidential assistant and leading figure at the NCP, Nafie Ali Nafie, said his party’s institutions have completed monitoring and evaluating the execution of Bashir’s 2010 electoral programme and prepared the 2015 programme which will mainly focus on providing services for the people.

He told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) website on Sunday that the execution rate of the 2010 programme was more than what the NCP had promised, adding the 2015 electoral program is based on the previous programme.

Meanwhile, the Al-Sharq Democratic Party (ADP) said it has held meetings with the NCP to discuss their alliance in the upcoming elections.

Amna Dirar, the chairman of the ADP announced their support to the nomination of Bashir in the upcoming elections, underscoring the latter is a figure acceptable to all Sudanese people.

She told the SMC that Bashir is well aware of all the country’s issues and problems and wouldn’t need to start from the scratch.

On December 22nd, the Council for the Parties of National Unity Government, containing 75 political groups, decided to nominate Bashir in the upcoming presidential elections.

Dirar revealed that her party will run in the ballot in seven states including Khartoum, Jezira, Sennar, Blue Nile besides the three eastern states of Kassala, Gedaref and Red Sea.

Sudan’s general elections are set to be held in April 2015, but opposition parties are refusing to participate saying the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuse to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

They have proposed forming a transitional government and holding a national conference with the participation of rebel groups to discuss a peaceful solution for the conflicts in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states.

The interim government, in accordance with the opposition platform, would organise general elections once a political agreement on constitutional matters is reached, inaugurating a new democratic regime.

The NCP rejects this proposal saying opposition parties must simply prepare for the 2015 elections and that rebels should sign first peace accords before to join the political process.

(ST)