Sudan’s Bashir officially named NCP presidential candidate

October 3, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) announced that president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will be its official candidate for the April 2010 elections.

“The National Congress Party’s General convention has decided to support the nomination of Omar Hassan al-Bashir as [our] candidate for the presidential elections in 2010,” the party said in a statement.

The Sudanese 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha said that the nomination is the will of the NCP bases throughout the country.

“It is an appreciation for his Sudanese originality and his wise and competent leadership to the country” he said.

Al-Bashir faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes allegedly committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

Addressing the conference, the Sudanese head of state vowed to implement a fragile North-South peace deal with Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) “without hesitation” and called for supporting Sudan unity but at the same time he reiterated commitment to the 2011 referendum in South Sudan.

He also said that his government will seek a resolution to the Darfur conflict “with open hearts and minds” adding that he will “return Darfur to its original form”.

The Sudanese president also promised “free and fair elections”.

“We fear god and we will not appeal to him through fraud” he said.

Many observers express skepticism that elections could be held on time given dispute over using census results for creating geographical constituencies as well as delay in adopting the national security law.

Last week several heavyweight Sudanese parties threatened to boycott elections unless the government amends “all laws related to freedoms and democratic transformation” to bring them into line with the interim constitution in Africa’s largest nation”.

(ST)