Sudanese Beja Congress to participate in Cairo talks as observers

KHARTOUM, May 12, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The armed wing of the opposition Beja Congress (BC) has announced that it would be participating in negotiations between the Sudanese government and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as observers.

Supporters of rebels from Sudan’s Eastern Front parade during a conference held by the Front north of Kassala town, near the Eritrean border on Friday April 1, 2005. (AFP) .

According to Al-Khartoum newspaper, the BC also stressed the importance of holding a special forum with the government to discuss the problems in the east.

The BC representative in charge of information, Idris Nur, said that the BC delegation, which he is leading, would leave Asmara later today for Cairo to attend the talks.

He said this affirms the good relation between the armed wing of the BC and the NDA and the presence in Cairo proves that the party is part of the NDA.

Nur welcomed the initiative to hold an all inclusive Beja-Beja conference which was proposed by the Beja Congress for Reform and Development, which is led by Uthman Bawnin.

He also pointed out that the BC leader Mubarak al-Fadl had held meetings in Asmara with different faction leaders with the aim of setting up a broader front for the opposition.

He also criticized some parties, which he did not name, for their actions in Al-Qadarif eastern Sudan and the impact this had on changing the situation in eastern Sudan. He denied that his party had anything to do with it.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.