Darfur’s Minnawi denies agreement with ruling NCP on outstanding issues
September 1, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s senior presidential assistant Minni Arcua Minnawi denied that he has reached any agreement with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on outstanding issues.
But Minnawi told Miraya radio that has no knowledge of any new agreement with NCP. He also said that his group presented draft proposal to move the DPA implementation forward.
He commended the move by the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) officials in Darfur who suspended their participation in the executive and legislative bodies of all three Darfur states.
The SPLM officials said they took this step in protest of the raid by Sudanese soldiers and security officers on Kalma IDP camp in South Darfur that resulted in the death of 30 people and injuries to 100, mostly women and children.
Minnawi left the Sudanese capital 4 months ago and informally suspended his participation in the government leading to speculations that he defected from the government of national unity.
It was reported at the time that he arrived in the Chadian capital and met with President Idriss Debi. However the former rebel leader firmly denied these reports.
Last week the SLM leader told Sudan Tribune that he has no intention of returning “until there is good will from the dominant National Congress Party”.
He also downplayed the ‘People of Sudan’ initiative launched by President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir during his tour of Darfur last month.
“The principle is not bad but other political parties must take the lead on it. The NCP cannot be in charge of it” he stressed.
International experts also say more than 300,000 were killed and 2 million have been driven from their homes by the conflict in Darfur, a region that is roughly the size of France.
(ST)