Sudan ruling party tells foreign envoys SPLM decision not justified

October 14, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) briefed foreign envoys in Darfur on the current crisis in the government of national unity. It explained that SPLM decision was not justified.

The state minister for foreign affairs, Ali Karti, has briefed foreign diplomats accredited to Sudan on current developments between the two Comprehensive Peace Agreement partners following the decision by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to suspend its participation in the Government of National Unity.

The National Congress Party minister said we told SPLM that there is no need for such measure as long as the Sudanese presidency is in charge of the pending issues.

Karti briefed the foreign diplomats on the performance of the two partners based on the mechanisms set by the CPA, as well as the progress made and the obstacles faced by the two sides.

The official added that this decision will not affect Darfur peace talks scheduled to begin in Libya at the end of this month. However he admitted that this suspension send negative signal.

Sudan’s former rebel SPLM, which signed a historic peace agreement two years ago with Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party to end one of Africa’s longest-running wars, abruptly pulled out of the national unity government on Thursday October 10 in the gravest blow yet to the peace accord.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement leader, Pagan Amum, said on Thursday that the National Congress Party had failed to carry out key parts of the 2005 accord.

(ST)