Sudan presidential race gains momentum

January 26, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The former Sudanese prime minister Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi who headed the last democratically elected government between the years 1986-1989 submitted today his nomination papers to the National Elections Committee (NEC) to run for president next April.

Al-Mahdi who was surrounded by jubilant supporters told reporters afterwards that he was hesitant in taking part in the elections because of his doubts that they will be held in a fair and free manner. He further added that he originally had no interest in running if it wasn’t for the pressure exercised on him by the Umma Party that he leads.

However, the former prime minister warned that he may still pull from the race at a later stage if he felt that the integrity of the process is lacking.

The presidential, legislative and regional elections due to take place in April are a key element of a 2005 peace deal between Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir’s government in the mostly Muslim north and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the largely Christian south that brought an end to a 22-year civil war.

The SPLM along with several northern opposition parties have threatened to boycott the elections last year if a number of deliverables are not achieved including removing restrictions on political activities, press censorship and reigning in the powers of the security bureau.

But later the coalition appeared to have a change of heart suggesting that they do not wish to allow the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to automatically capture the votes if they were to boycott.

“The announcement of an electoral boycott because of the flaws at this time would not serve the national interest,” read the statement by Al-Mahdi.

Al-Mahdi, 74, heads the influential Umma party and is spiritual leader of “Ansar,” a Sufi brotherhood that venerates the famous Mahdi who defeated British colonial forces under General Gordon at this day in history back in 1885.

Descended from Sudan’s legendary Islamist ruler, Sadiq al-Mahdi has held the premiership twice before, in 1966-67 when he was just 30, and again after his party won Sudan’s last multi-party elections in 1986.

The NCP seeks to gain legitimacy through the elections particularly in light of the arrest warrant hanging against Bashir which has restricted the latter’s foreign travels and meeting with world officials as well.

Al-Mahdi alluded to this issue saying that he would have preferred a national compromise that implements a balance between justice and stability considering the status of Bashir as an indicted figure and to preserve Sudan’s foreign relations.

He also promised to settle the Darfur conflict and “dismantle totalitarianism” in Africa’s largest state.

“We think our programme is going to dismantle totalitarianism, is going to resolve all the problems of the peace agreements and create conditions for Sudan united on new principles or neighborhood between two sisterly states,” Al-Mahdi added.

“I have not been fired by the people, I have been fired by the guns. Now it is possible for the people to reinstate whom they believe represents their interest, represents aspirations,” he said in an English statement at a news conference.

“Now it is possible for the people to reinstate (the person) who they believe represents their interests … represents their aspirations. This is simply a return to normal because I have not been fired by the people. I have been fired by the guns,” he told reporters after handing in his nomination for the ballot.

Mubarak Al-Fadil who is also Al-Mahdi’s cousin and head of the breakaway Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URP) also filed his nomination papers.

Al-Mahdi and Al-Fadil are reportedly seeking an end to years of dispute that led to the former defecting from the Umma Party and creating his own political party.

Last month the former prime minister issued a statement calling for unity and return of defectors dropping his long standing demand for an apology on their part.

However, Al-Fadil’s nomination appeared to have taken Al-Mahdi by surprise who said in a newspaper interview that his cousin did not consult with him on this.

Separately the SPLM deputy Secretary General Yasir Arman also submitted his nomination application to the NEC which certified that he fulfilled all the requirements as outlined in the electoral law including collecting 56,000 signatures from 25 states well over the threshold.

Last week the Popular Congress Party (PCP) lead by Islamist opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi has completed the candidacy filing for his deputy Abdullah Deng Nhial making him the second figure after Bashir to be declared a candidate.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which is the second largest Northern party in Sudan has nominated its spokesperson Hatem Al-Sir to run for president but will formally file papers tomorrow along with Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) secretary general Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud.

(ST)