Sudan opposition NDA rejects offer of Cabinet seats
Oct 6, 2005 (CAIRO) — Sudanese largest opposition alliance said Thursday that the allocation of only two seats in Khartoum’s new national unity Cabinet was unsatisfactory and asked for negotiations to increase its share.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), however, will accept the 20 parliamentary seats offered to it, saying that taking part in the legislative authority will enable it to monitor the government’s performance, defend freedoms and help implement peace agreements.
“The offer made is not appropriate because it does not enable the alliance to effectively contribute to realizing the goals expected from the national unity government,” the NDA said of the two posts offered.
The group “decided to resolve this situation through negotiations and direct contacts with the concerned parties in light of the political developments,” the group said in a statement issued after a meeting of its leadership committee.
Sudan’s new national unity Cabinet was sworn in last month after a two-week delay caused by tough wrangling between the ruling party and former southern rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. The government was set up under a peace accord signed in January between the SPLA and the government, ending a 21-year civil war.
The two ministries given to the NDA – science and education – remained vacant.
In June, the alliance signed a reconciliation accord with the Khartoum government that paved the way for its incorporation in the 30-member Cabinet, which is now dominated by the ruling party and the SPLA.
NDA spokesman Hatem al-Sir Ali said the government offered his group two Cabinet seats and 20 seats in the 400-member central parliament during August talks, an offer that received mixed reviews from alliance members. More seats were allocated to the alliance in regional parliaments.
“Some were in favor of participating. Others were for conditional participation if our share increased. Yet others did not want to take part,” Ali told The Associated Press. “So we reached a middle ground.”
Ali said the alliance informed the Khartoum government and mediators, such as Egypt, of its decision and demands, but has yet to receive an answer.
“We are keen on the alliance’s participation in power, but we want an honorable and balanced participation. The current arrangement is unjust,” he said.
The alliance did not request a particular number of Cabinet seats, leaving that to be decided during future talks, he added.
Ali warned that failure to include the alliance in the Cabinet may undermine the government.
The NDA’s absence “can waste a chance for stability and an opportunity to have a government that enjoys a wide base of support ,” he said. “It will hurt the peace process.”
Government officials were not immediately available for comment.
(AP/ST)