Sudanese opposition NDA mulls joining new govt

Sept 23, 2005 (CAIRO) — The National Democratic Alliance ( NDA), an umbrella group of Sudanese opposition parties, is currently mulling an invitation to join the new Sudanese transitional government, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported on Friday.

An NDA source told MENA that contacts were under way between the leader of the alliance, Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, and officials in the Sudanese government and the former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The NDA leadership had been holding constant meetings to consult over a reply to Khartoum’s invitation, said the source who declined to be named.

The source expects NDA spokesperson Hatem al-Sir to give a statement carrying the alliance’s consent shortly.

The Sudanese government suggests that the alliance get three cabinet posts and 20 seats in parliament.

President Omar al-Bashir announced Tuesday that his ruling National Congress Party and the SPLM agreed on the formation of a national unity government under a peace deal signed in January to end a 21-year north-south civil war.

The ruling party retained control of key positions including the defense, interior, energy and finance ministries and Lam Akol of the SPLM was named foreign minister.

(Xinhua)