Sudan NCP express hope that SPLM Arman’s political career comes to an end

January 31, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – A senior official in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) appeared to signal a growing concern over the candidacy of Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) deputy Secretary General Yasir Arman who is running for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and a handful of other hopefuls.

In an interview with the London based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat the state minister for foreign affairs Ali Karti who is also the NCP’s foreign affairs official said that SPLM’s pick of Arman is a mere expression of gratitude by the ex-Southern rebel group towards the Northern figure.

“This is just an attempt [by SPLM] to show appreciation to his [Arman] big efforts that he undertook particularly the accusations and abuse and in our assessment it is a reward to what he does. Definitely he would not be an alternative to Kiir [SPLM] chairman” Karti said.

“We hope that he is burned [politically] and is out of the way” he added.

The NCP official said that his party’s decision not to challenge Salva Kiir over South Sudan presidency is out of their belief that they should not “open a door of competition” in South Sudan and also denied that his party is secretly supporting Lam Akol who has defected from the SPLM to found his own party and maintains close links with the ruling party.

Following the decision by the NCP to endorse Kiir for South Sudan presidency, its officials said they want they want the SPLM to do the same and withdraw the candidacy of Arman as a return of favor.

However, the SPLM dismissed the request saying it is a sign of fear that Bashir, who faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), may not win in his reelection bid.

There is growing speculation in Khartoum that the SPLM may end up pulling Arman from the race and endorsing Bashir in order to ensure that the NCP would grant the South Sudanese a smooth path to referendum and secession particularly as many issues remain outstanding with regard to post-independence arrangements including national debt, border demarcation, water and international agreements.

One observer with close links to SPLM told Sudan Tribune that he finds it “bewildering” that neither Salva Kiir nor his deputy Riek Machar has made any statements in support of Arman in face of NCP pressure.

“This clearly indicates that they may be open to a compromise with the NCP on the issue of presidential elections. There are millions of votes at stake here and the SPLM leadership may want to use this as leverage against the NCP” the observer who asked not to be named said.

“The separatist faction the SPLM will surely back going into this direction,” he added.

Fueling the speculation was the arrival of the Sudanese Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha in Juba whose visit was previously unannounced. Taha met with Kiir and other senior SPLM officials after whom they promised to continue discussions in the presidency at a later time.

If no presidential candidate gets 51 percent, it will force a second round between the two leading candidates. The NCP is worried that opposition parties may back the candidate who will run against Bashir making it more difficult for him to win.

The official presidential runners also include Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi (Umma Party); Hatem Al-Sir (Democratic Unionist Party); Abdullah Deng Nhial (Popular Congress Party); Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud (Sudanese Communist Party); Mubarak Al-Fadil (Umma Reform and Renewal Party); Abdel-Aziz Khalid (Sudan Alliance Forces); Kamil Al-Tayib Idriss (Independent); Ahmed Goha (Independent).

Karti said in the interview that his party does feel threatened any of the ten candidates which include the former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi whose rule was toppled by Bashir in 1989 but suggested that some external forces may throw their weight behind some of the candidates.

“The scenarios of recent and old history indicate how hostile international powers may provide some candidates that have no chances of winning with media and financial resources,” he said.

The NCP official defended the record of the government saying they managed to preserve the independence of the decision making process and improve the economic and living conditions of the people in the areas of health, education and infrastructure while maintaining the Islamic ideology.

Karti said that internal and external forces are feeling “jealousy” against his party because they have managed to resist external pressure and hegemony.

(ST)