Sudanese opposition leader hails deployment of hybrid operation
August 6, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese opposition Umma National party has hailed the recent UN Security Council 1769 for the deployment of 26, 000 soldiers of the hybrid force in Darfur. The party said that the increasing foreign intervention in Sudan was caused by absence of a clear strategy from the government.
In a press conference at Umma party Headquarter in Omdurman on Sunday, chairman of the party, Sadiq al-Mahdi called upon all Sudanese to cooperate with the hybrid forces to observe and protect the relief and maintain peace and stability in Darfur.
Al-Mahdi said that the Arusha negotiations or any other initiatives should not be under Abuja agreement, attributing that to the non participation of the political forces. “Abuja agreement was born dead, and insisting on it means joking on the citizens,” He added.
The opposition leader criticized the United Nations for ignoring the key role of the political, civil and tribal society in Darfur, asserting that the agreement which would be signed is ineffective and incomplete.
He also called for change of the higher leadership in Darfur states, in the coming period, by another that will be accepted and will be more suitable, saying that the current administration was part of the problem.
Furthermore, he called for comprehensive national meeting in order to attain comprehensive peace and agreeing upon the program of the democratic transformation.
Al-Mahdi said that the situation in Darfur does not allow elections to be conducted there, saying that the electoral process requires return of the refugees and displaced people to their villages in order to carry out population census, border demarcation and approving the legislation of elections in a manner that encourages the political forces to participate in it.
(ST)