Opposition parties boycott Dialogue Conference in south Darfur

February 21, 2008 (NYALA) — The Alliance of the opposition political parties in South Darfur state announced boycott of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultations (DDDC) process, which began last Tuesday in Nyala.

The Sudanese opposition coalition, which includes the Umma Party, the Popular Congress Party and the Communist Party described the DDDC conference, organised by the ruling party, as isolated and unilateral.

They further said it lacks all the concepts defined in Darfur Peace agreement (DPA) which charged the African Union with the responsibility of organizing the process following a comprehensive peace settlement in the region.

According to the Declaration of Principles agreed with the rebel movements in Abuja, the DDDC has to be organised by Darfur political and civil forces without any interference from the central government.

Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) told Sudan Tribune last week that this meeting ” “at this stage is a superficial operation far from the people and used by Khartoum as instrument to hit the social fabric because the government does not want the unity of Darfur people.”

Hamed Saad of the Ummah Party criticised the role of the ruling National Congress Party in the organisation of the dialogue saying it is a “poppycock game by the National Congress Party.”

While the representative of the communist party in South Adarfur, Mrs Nour Al-Sadiq said that this DDDC meeting “reflects the hegemony of the National Congress Party which is part of the conflict and can not sponsor the dialogue.

(ST)