Sudan’s NCP and DUP discuss Mirghani’ initiative on national consensus
January 3, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the opposition Democratic Unionist Party discussed today the reactivation of a political initiative launched by DUP leader for national consensus on major issues in the country.
Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani launched in 2008 following his return to Sudan an initiative calling for a national round table involving all the political parties to discuss the implementation of the different peace agreement and Darfur crisis in order to achieve political stability in the country.
Al-Mirghani who was a former ally of the late SPLM leader John Garang is opposed to the southern Sudan separation and calls to involve all the major forces in issues dealing with the future of Sudan instead of the bilateral coalition between the NCP and the former rebels following the 2005 peace agreement.
Ibrahim Ghandour, NCP political secretary discussed on Sunday at the premises of his party with a delegation from the DUP ways of activating the initiative of Mr. Al-Mirghani for a national consensus.
Mr. Al-Baker Ahmed Abdallah a member of the DUP delegation described the meeting as positive, noting that it comes in a confirmation with Al- Mirghani call for national neutrality in all issues of concern to Sudan.
He stressed that the discussions focused only on the initiative, saying the NCP has positive position and they showed keenness to revive the initiative and willingness to continue the meetings to speed up work to achieve the objective of this initiative.
Reacting to questions about possible electoral alliance before the election between the two parties, he strongly denied that the meeting had discussed any other issue than the initiative.
Un confirmed reports say Egyptian government, the sponsor of Cairo Agreement between the Al-Mirgahni who is also the leader of the opposition National Democratic Alliance, and the NCP government in June 2005, is pushing for a rapprochement between NCP, DUP and the Umma Party of Sadiq Al-Mahdi.
After more than twenty years since the 1989 Islamist coup d’etat, Sudan will witness next April the organization of first free and fair election in the country.
(ST)