Toppling government is first item in programme of Hasan al-Turabi’s party: INTERVIEW
KHARTOUM, Feb 18, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Ibrahim Ahmad Omar, the secretary-general of the ruling National Congress (NC) party, said that toppling government is first item in programme of the Popular National Congress, (PNC) of Hassan al-Turabi.
He revealed in an interview given to the London based Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 18 February, that plight of Abeyei would be withdrawn from the current round of peace talks between GoS and SPLM in Kenya.
Regarding The Jeddah agreement, Omar said “it opened the door for the return of Al-Mirghani. It also opened the door for lengthier, greater dialogue between the National Congress and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)”.
The interview was conducted by Mohamed Saeed Mohamed al-Hasan. All subheadings were inserted editorially
Below the full text of the interview:
Al-Hasan: What is the outcome of the latest round of peace negotiations in Naivasha?
Omar: The negotiations are about to reach their final stages, after signing the wealth sharing agreement and achieving great progress on the file of the three regions [Nuba Mountains, Abyei and southern Blue Nile]. However, the issue of Abyei still represents a major obstacle. The Sudan People’s Liberation] Movement (SPLM) wants Abyei to be under the supervision of the south, because it was annexed to Southern Kordofan based on a decision by the British administration during its rule in Sudan. The SPLM thinks that cancelling this decision would return Abyei to the south. On the other hand, the government’s position is that Abyei is a part of the north and is inhabited by northern and southern tribes. It is also a part of the north according to the map of Sudan when it gained independence on 1 January 1956.
Apparently, there is a tendency to withdraw the Abyei file from the negotiations, provided that there will be an arrangement in favour of settling the issue once and for all, while maintaining the administration and development to establish a direct relationship between Abyei and the centre, as well as forming a committee to look into the issue of Abyei, away from the atmosphere of tension or enmity that exists now. The purpose of this is to give way to the negotiations on other issues.
Power-sharing
Al-Hasan: What about the issue of power sharing?
Omar: It has not begun yet.
Al-Hasan: Is there any obstacle?
Omar: So far, the SPLM has not raised this issue and has not presented its proposals.
US Administration has its private agenda
Al-Hasan: How does the NC view the US demand to expedite the signing of a peace agreement in Sudan.
Omar: The technical committees for studying these files have conducted detailed studies for holding discussions about them at the right times. For this reason, irrespective of the pressure or haste from the US, the government negotiator will not depart from his programme to issues, which had not been discussed before as a result of this pressure, because this negotiator has instructions that were discussed within the context of finding a just solution to the issue of Sudan as a whole.
Al-Hasan: But aren’t you going to give consideration to Washington’s contacts and follow-ups to expedite reaching an agreement?
Omar: We know that the US Administration has its private agenda behind this haste. The objective behind this is to use the card of achieving peace and ending the longest war in Africa in US presidential elections. This issue concerns the US. On our part, we can benefit from the attention of US and other Western circles on the issue of peace. The NC is very eager to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in Sudan.
Partnership between ruling party and rebels
Al-Hasan: How does the NC view the partnership with the SPLM, after announcing its transformation from a military movement into a political current?
Omar: The agreement, which was signed between the government and the SPLM in Machakos, and then the agreement on security arrangements in Naivasha and the rounds of negotiation have set a minimum requirement; namely, the SPLM’s participation in the government in executive and legislative agencies. But it is common knowledge that the success of these executive agencies in performing their duties continues to depend on harmony, coexistence, and mutual trust. This means that the executive participation constitutes a minimum requirement and that it should rise to the level of political participation. In other words, there should be convergence in views, understanding, and policies of a great future for Sudan.
Rebel delegation’s visit to Khartoum
Al-Hasan: The SPLM has visited Khartoum and negotiated with the NC. Isn’t this considered to be political participation?
Omar: The SPLM delegation’s visit to the presidency of the NC in Khartoum is a first exploratory step towards setting up bilateral cooperation, but it definitely does not mean participation. Participation requires broader meetings, lengthier and more profound dialogues. We hope that this will happen in the coming period.
Rebel’s invitation for government officials to visit south
Al-Hasan: Hasn’t the SPLM invited you to visit it in (Rumba)?
Omar:Yes. The date of the visit has not been fixed yet.
Al-Hasan: Is there any obstacle to this?
Omar: We are now preoccupied with the issue of negotiations, which require hard work and concentration by the two sides.
Jeddah agreement with opposition National Democratic Alliance
Al-Hasan: How do you view the outcome of the Jeddah meeting between the government and the opposition, given that you helped pave the way for signing it?
Omar: The Jeddah agreement asserted that resorting to violence by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has ended. It opened the door for the return of Al-Mirghani. It also opened the door for lengthier, greater dialogue between the National Congress and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). In addition, it confirmed to the SPLM that the other NDA members do not oppose the Machakos agreement. All of these serve the goal of achieving peace, stability, open democratic life and pave the way for great political efforts.
Al-Hasan: What will be the form of future political alliances – two-way, three-way, or four-way?
Omar: I think there are important key issues pertaining to the governance of Sudan in the future. These issues now represent a conviction, if not a consensus, on the part of the vast majority in Sudan. It was perhaps for this reason that we thought that it would be in the interest of the homeland to establish a grouping or a broad front, which includes the groups and forces that agree on these issues or those goals. If such a grouping or broad front is agreed upon, it will take Sudan to a new stage.
Sudan had needed to settle these issues in all previous periods. There had been a struggle between democracy, socialism, Marxism, and democratic centralism. There had also been a struggle between Islamism and secularism and between nationalism and internationalism. However, it was finally decided to adopt constitutional, pluralistic, and presidential democratic rule. All these issues could pave the way for establishing a broad front that includes all political forces.
Talks between president and opposition Umma party leader
Al-Hasan: Has the outcome of the talks of President Omar al-Bashir with Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, leader of the Ummah Party, shifted to another stage?
Omar: Yes, we have agreed to form a joint committee, including three members from each side, to coordinate efforts and agree and hold consultations on the issues on the agenda. Thus, we have restored the apparatus and method that existed between us before the Ummah Party split from us. We will begin our meetings soon.
Western Sudan skirmishes
Al-Hasan: Who is behind or who is stirring up the Darfur incidents?
Omar: The rebel groups now in Darfur belong to some tribes, although their number exceeds the number of tribes, including Al-Zaghawah tribe. This does not mean that Al-Zaghawah tribe is rebellious, but some of its members are leading the rebellion. Those rebels are also led by former leaders in the Popular National Congress (PNC), although one of the leaders of the PNC has said that those people are not affiliated to the PNC.
In any case, the situation is not free from tribalism. Therefore, it is being handled as a rebellion, and the armed forces are performing their national duty of confronting it. We in the NC are taking political action, explaining facts, and opening the door for a political solution. We are also working to manage the social repercussions lest it should be thought that there is neglect or discrimination concerning the families that were harmed by the recent incidents.
Al-Hasan: What is your position towards the PNC, led by Dr Hasan al-Turabi?
Omar: The NC still believes that toppling the government is the first item in the programme of the PNC.
Al-Hasan: How are you going to confront it?
Omar: By political action and having recourse to the law.
Relations with Egypt
Al-Hasan: Have you implemented the agreements and protocols between the National Congress in Sudan and the ruling National Party in Egypt?
Omar: We have advanced cooperation with political forces in the sisterly Arab countries. Concerning the National Party in Egypt, we have started implementing bilateral programmes, exchanging visits between secretariats, training young political cadres, and holding a training and testing workshop for the young cadres in Khartoum.