Sudan’s Bashir challenges opposition forces to participate in April elections
January 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has challenged opposition parties to participate in upcoming elections scheduled this April.
He reiterated that the general elections will be held on time, saying political parties should get ready to participate in the democratic transformation.
Bashir pledged that elections will be free, fair and transparent.
“I dare you participate in the elections,” he said to opposition parties.
The Sudanese president asserted he will allow opposition forces to hold public rallies to lay out their programs in order to allow the Sudanese people to choose their representatives.
He also criticised the decision of some unspecified foreign organisations not to provide financial support for the elections, but assured that his country is capable of financing the elections without external funding.
Last January, Bashir called on political parties and rebel groups to take part in a national conference on peace and constitutional reforms, adding that this process should be held inside the country without foreign intervention.
He also stated that rebels must sign security arrangements agreements before joining the process.
The opposition, on the other side, reacted differently to the call, but shared same view on postponement of elections, asserting that political freedoms and basic human rights as top priorities for the creation of a conducive environment.
Bashir repeated his promise to end rebellion in the country, saying the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will crush the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF) in Darfur soon.
He said the government will collect weapons of civilians and will hold monopoly on the use of arms, renewing calls for the armed groups to join the dialogue process.
“Those who lay down their arms are welcome and those who refuse to do so we will pursue them everywhere,” he said.
Bashir added that Darfur would return to its previous state, stressing his government’s program for coming period aims to end rebellion in all Darfur states.
The Sudanese army has been fighting rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and Darfur rebels since 2003.
Hayder Galu Koma, governor of West Darfur state for his part underscored support of the people in his state of Bashir’s candidacy for the presidential elections, saying the crowd is the best proof of that support.
(ST)