Sudan’s Mirghani urges implementation of Cairo agreement
June 20, 2009 (CAIRO) – A Sudanese opposition leader today urged Khartoum to “reactivate” an agreement signed with Khartoum in 2005 in his capacity as head of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani the Chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) met with the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in Cairo today and told reporters afterwards that he discussed a wide array of topics.
Al-Mirghani said that he submitted a number of memos to the Sudanese government and named 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha outlining deficiencies in implementation of the Cairo accord.
The reconciliation agreement was brokered by the Egyptian government and allowed for the NDA to take part in the government of national unity formed after the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The NDA was comprised of 13 parties that united in 1989 to oppose the regime only weeks after Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir seized power in a military coup.
Besides the southern Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), the NDA includes Mirghani’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), one of Sudan’s oldest political movements, which draws support from the powerful Khatmiya brotherhood, as well as the communist party.
Al-Mirghani criticized the focus on the Abuja agreement signed with Darfur rebel groups and the CPA while ignoring the Cairo accord.
He stressed that the Cairo agreement has the potential to solve many of Sudan’s problems if executed properly saying Sudan needs “national consensus”.
On the upcoming 2010 elections, Mirghani said he is prepared for it and expressed confidence that he can attain the highest number of the votes among candidates.
This is the first trip abroad for the opposition leader since his return to take part in the funeral of his brother Ahmed Al-Mirghani who was former president of Sudan prior to the 1989 coup.
It was reported that Khartoum asked the low profile political leader to remain inside the country and held his passport.
The DUP has been stymied by internal divisions with many of its members defecting to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Many within the party are calling for segregating the Khatmiya religious sect from the DUP base.
(ST)