Sudan Kiir says SPLM not to ally itself with forces opposed to peace

Dec 14, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The First Vice-President, Lt-Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit has affirmed the commitment of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to its partnership with the ruling National Congress (NC) party, and its rejection to engage in any alliance with the forces that oppose the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

This came when Kiir received at his office at the Republican Palace Wednesday 14 December the SPLM deputy at the National Assembly, Ghazi Suleiman, who acquainted the First Vice-President with performance of the SPLM deputies at the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the First Vice-President described as genuine the partnership between the SPLM and the NC.

He said that the genuineness of the partnership between the SPLM and the NC would be judged through their cooperation in the government, their keenness to implement the peace agreement, boosting the democratic transformation and ending the suffering of citizens.

In a press statement to SUNA after the meeting, Suleiman said that SPLM has a clear stance of rejection to hegemony and alliance with any circle that opposes the SPLM principles. He further said that the SPLM is not ready to ally itself with any axis which was not participating in the national unity government.

The SPLM leadership rejected to be part in a coalition of the opposition forces for the elections of the Sudanese Bar Association. Initially SPLM advocates said they will from a united list for these elections with Communist party, Democratic Unionist Party and the Umma Party of the Sadiq al-Mahdi.

It seems that Kiir does not want to see his party associated with the Umma which has a hostile position towards the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

(ST)