SAF- PRESS RELEASE : The Central Council’s extra ordinary meetings (27th – 31 March 2004)
The Central Council[[The Central Council (CC) is the highest legislative organ of SAF between the once every 4 years convention.]] (CC) of Sudan National Alliance/Sudan Alliance Forces (SNA/SAF) held an extraordinary meeting, from 27 to 31 of March, 2004. The Council examined reports on SAF’s internal political and organizational crisis. The CC Chairman and other leading members of the council from Sudan and other chapters visited SAF troops and briefed them on the crisis.
Numerous attempts were made by leading CC members to persuade Brig.(RC) Abdulaziz Khalid, Chair of the Executive Committee (CEC), of the importance of his participation in the meetings. Unfortunately, he maintained an unyielding position against the extraordinary meeting.
The Council established a fact finding committee to examine charges against Abdelaziz Khalid. The Committee studied the case and all related documents including a written response by CEC to the accusations. After reviewing the report of the Committee, the CC unanimously concluded that the CEC actions constituted a dangerous and flagrant violation of SAF principles, commitments and strategies.
The CC proceeded with its frank deliberations and analysis of the crisis and concluded that the crisis emanated from within the Executive Office and its failure to function in harmony. The Council listed the following factors as root causes of the crisis:
1- The determined disregard by SAF Chairman of the Executive Committee (CEC) of SAF’s institutions, binding statutes or fundamental charter as evident in his obstruction of decisions taken by elected organs.
2- The CEC authoritarian dealings that weakened our organization by shifting it away from the principles of democracy, transparency and accountability.
3- Violation of the Joint CC & Executive Committee meetings resolutions of August 2004, regarding unity between SAF and SPLM/A.
4- Violation of the Joint CC & Executive Committee meetings resolutions of August 2004 related to the organizational crisis.
5- CEC breach of SAF strategies and its political declarations through his unilateral contact with GOS without the consent, knowledge, or consultation with SAF institutions.
6- Material evidence documenting activities by CEC that unmistakably damaged SAF’s strategic interests.
Accordingly:
i) Cognizant of SAF Basic Charter, chapter(8), article(2) – Powers of the Central Council, the Central Council resolved to:
1- Suspend SAF Executive Committee and its secretariats until the convening of an Emergency General Congress (EGC).
2- Suspend the powers & jurisdiction of the Chairman of the Executive Committee until the convening of an EGC.
3- Censure authoritarian decisions by the Chairman of the Executive Committee since the beginning of the crisis and consider them void.
4- Establish a committee to review the experience of SAF and report to the next EGC.
ii) With reference to SAF Basic Charter- Chapter(11) – Formation of Committees, the Council created 4 steering committees to administer SAF affairs, under the supervision of the CC chairman, with a coordination secretariat.
The Steering Committees are:
– Political Committee – Headed by Chairman of CC (inside Sudan).
– Military Committee.
– Unity of New Sudan Forces Committee – Chaired by Anwar Adaham.
– Financial Committee – Chaired by Sadig Ismail.
Coordinating Secretariat – Taisier Ali.