Sudan’s dominant party says elections will include Darfur

October 3, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The National Congress Party today reiterated its commitment to hold the general next April as scheduled adding that the restive region of Darfur will not be excluded.

Sudan’s dominant party Saturday concluded its third general conference and reaffirmed in a communiqué released at the end of the three day meeting that “the elections will be free and fair, monitored and will achieve the biggest popular consent.”

Speaking at press conference held on the occasion, the Sudanese Presidential Assistant Nafi Ali Nafi who is also NCP Deputy Chairman for political and organizational affairs stressed that “Darfur will not be excluded from the upcoming elections.”

He said that Darfur province is safe and stable and his party held its regional conventions there without facing any problem. “All indicates that peace has been achieved in Darfur and there is no fighting or battles,” he further added.

A meeting of Sudanese opposition parties and the southern Sudan ruling party, SPLM, threatened this week to boycott the next year election if the NCP does not endorse before November 30, a number of laws aiming at creating an appropriate environment for the multi-party elections.

Darfur rebels also reject the organization of elections before the signing of a peace deal to settle the ongoing conflict there. The demand is supported by some opposition parties who ask to delay the election.

In its final communiqué the northern Sudan ruling party vowed to continue its efforts to negotiate a lasting peace in Darfur region with the rebels. Also the NCP pledged to implement a peace deal signed with a former rebel group in April 2006, affirming that the security and humanitarian conditions in the region are stable.

“We work to ensure that the coming round of negotiations with the Darfur armed movements would achieve a positive progress and help reach a comprehensive peace agreement,” said Nafi on Saturday.

Sudanese government is engaged in a peace process with the rebel groups hosted by Qatar. After the signing of a confidence building agreement with one rebel group, Justice and Equality Movement, the peace process stalled following Khartoum rejection to release some 100 fighter detained in Khartoum.

The mediation is planning to reactivate the process through the involvement of the civil society groups and the organization of a workshop for the rebels. Also it encourages the ongoing initiatives to reunite the different rebel factions.

(ST)