Sudan’s Bashir denies difference with vice-president Taha

July 6, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir stressed the cohesiveness of the Government of National Unity adding that the rumours regarding differences between him and the vice-president Ali Osman Taha are totally untrue and have been fabricated by the media.

His denial comes after persistent rumors in the Sudanese capital about al-Bashir-Taha row over the UN force takeover in Darfur. Contrary to Bashir, Taha seems favorable to transfer the peacekeeping mission from the African Union to the United Nations.

Taha is currently in Turkey since three weeks. He even didn’t attended the celebration of the 30 June 1989 Islamist coup d’état.

It is admitted that Bashir- Taha difference dates back to the formation of the Government of National Unity after the signing of the Comprehensive peace Agreement with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.

Taha sought to nominate ministers who should be favorable to the CPA, also he wanted to renew the ruling party by promoting new figures. But Bashir chose to keep the old guard who is against the peace deal like Nafei Ali Nafei, Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, Majzoub al-Khalifa and others.

The death of the late Dr John Garang, the two years friend of Taha, weakened the position of the Second Vice-President who is more and more marginalized by al-Bashir clan.

However analysts say Taha’s open-mind and his good relations with the international community give him advantage over Bashir. They say Taha pragmatic approach is more productive than demagogue
al-Bashir who often retracts his previous burning statement.

(ST)