Sudan’s Bashir steps down as army chief, wins reelection backing from 20 parties
January 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir issued a decree late Monday, relieving himself from the position of the general commander of the armed forces in a procedural step required in order for him to run in the upcoming presidential elections as nominee of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Some observers in the Sudanese capital have speculated over the last few weeks that Bashir will ignore the requirement to abandon his position primarily for fear of being overthrown one day by his successor in leading the army.
In 1989, Bashir who was a Brigadier General at the time led a military coup against the democratically elected government led by former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi.
Today’s executive order put an end to the military career of Bashir who graduated from the Sudanese military academy in 1966 and rose through the ranks to become a Field Marshal in 2004. He is the third figure after former presidents Ga’afar Nimeiry and Abdel-Rahman Siwar Al-Dahab to attain this rank.
On Tuesday, the National Elections Committee (NEC) will accept nominations for presidential and parliamentary elections. The NCP , Popular Congress Party (PCP). Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP) and other smaller parties named their candidates for to run for president.
Opposition parties have voiced skepticism that air and free elections could be conducted in light of NCP domination over the state bodies, press and powers of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Al-Bashir as pledging to work for realization of democratic transformation through free and fair elections and to complete the peace process and stability in the country.
The Sudanese head of state made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of more than 28 political parties of the national unity government and other parties who gave him their backing in his bid for reelection.
The head of the Sudan’s People Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), Lam Akol said that it is “normal” that political parties agreed to nominate Bashir for the presidency because the country’s constitutional system is based on the peace agreement which was signed by the Government of Sudan, headed by him and not the National Congress Party, as many people believe, and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which was led by the late John Garang, a matter which necessitates cooperation with president Bashir to complete implementation of the peace agreement and the other peace agreements.
Akol told reporters at Bashir’s residence that the different challenges facing the country require a personality like Bashir, who is widely accepted and respected by all the Sudanese people, besides his experience and his clear achievements in the history of the country, saying that all these merits makes him eligible for realizing more national achievements in the presidency office.
The former foreign minister described the consensus of the political parties on the nominating “citizen Omar Al-Bashir” as a unique in the history of Sudan, urging other parties to join this national stance.
The General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Hibir Yusuf Nur-al-Dayem, said that al-Bashir has proved during the past period that he is “a principled man” and that he has been working to achieve certain goals in addition to his patriotism, a matter that makes him “a symbol of the country” and earned the respect of a tremendous regional and international levels.
The Chairman of the United Salvation Front, Joseph Malwal, and Amina Dirar, the Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Eastern Sudan made similar expressions of support.
Most observers expect Bashir to comfortably win the elections particularly in light of the arrest warrant issued for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague almost a year ago. A reelection will provide him with legitimacy in the international arena.
Last month, the Russian special envoy to Sudan Mikhail Margelov expressed skepticism about the chances for another figure to replace Bashir as president.
“I have not yet seen this alternative [to Bashir] even back in January when I had to convince [our] western partners that the arrest warrant by International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest the Sudanese president is not viable and unrealistic” Margelov was quoted as saying in response to a question on availability of other candidates to run for president against Bashir.
(ST)