Umma Party threatens to boycott Sudan’s elections

March 15, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The opposition Umma party of former Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi threatened to boycott the general elections next year if the troubled region of Darfur is excluded from it.

The Sudanese political forces are strongly divided over the run of the first free general elections in the country since 1986 before the end of Darfur crisis. According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the elections should be run during the next year.

Vice-Chairman of the Umma Party, Adam Musa Madbo said in a public rally in Kamrab area, Sinnar state on Friday that “Umma Party will not participate if Darfur is excluded from the elections.”

Madbo stressed the need to hold elections in Darfur. He further described the National Congress Party as not serious about holding elections adding it does not honour deals

Earlier in March the Umma Party said it had agreed with the NCP over general political cadre on the the elections, Darfur and the democratic transformation in the country.

The two parties are expected to hold a meeting on Sunday March 16.

The Umma party which has no representatives in the parliament or some ministers in the national cabinet as the other opposition NDA forces, reiterated its rejection to rally the NCP insisting that the dialogue with the ruling party is aiming only at achieving national consensus.

The Darfur region is considered as one of the main electoral bastions of the Umma Party in the country.

(ST)