Sudan ruling party criticises SPLM support for UN force
Sept 17, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — An official from the Sudanese ruling party criticised the stand of its partner in the government of national unity over the deployment of international forces in Sudan’s war-torn region of Darfur.
The deputy chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and head of South sector Riek Gai criticised the position of “some political forces” in favour of the deployment of the United Nations force in Darfur. He added that the “UN resolution 1706 would lead to the destruction of the Sudan”.
The head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit, told the independent Al-Sudani daily on Saturday that the Sudanese government was incapable of protecting civilians in Darfur, and called on the U.N. to intervene.
Speaking to the NCP Southern Sudan youth leadership meeting in Khartoum, Gai said he would lead the resistance alongside president Omar al-Bashir against “the aggressors” to defend the integrity of the territory.
The Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha announced that he would hold a press conference tomorrow in Khartoyum. He is expected to deplore the position of the SPLM supporting deployment of the UN troops in Darfur.
Since March, Salva Kiir repeated his support for the UN force to Darfur, he just had requested at that time the signing of the peace deal. Sudanese president had also announced his rejection of the UN force without consultations.
The former Darfur rebel leader who signed a peace deal with Khartoum last May, Minni Minawi who is also the Senior Presidential Assistant announced his support for the deployment of the international force in Darfur.
This public support of the two partners in the government of the national unity will certainly weaken the position of the National Congress Party in front of the international community, say analysts.
Also, it will deepen the lack of trust between the two partners of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement complicate the resolution of the pended issues.
But for the credit of the SPLM, the welcoming of the UN troops will be seen as positive signal by the Sudanese democratic forces that criticised the SPLM leadership for its disinterest from the national issues since the death of the late Garang.
(ST)