NCP censures SANU’s call for southern Sudan independence

August 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s dominant National Congress Party (NCP) criticized a statement by Sudan African National Union (SANU) party in favor of Southern Sudan independence in the upcoming referendum next January.

Last Friday, Chairman of SANU, Dr. Toby Maduot Parek put out a press release supporting the independence of southern Sudan, accusing the NCP of failing to implement the CPA and pursuing “a strategy to marginalize the people of underdeveloped regions of the Sudan”, as well as dividing the national political forces.

Speaking to the press at the NCP premises on Sunday, Qutbi Al-Mahdi, Secretary for Organizations at the NCP censured SANU’s position supportive for the independence of the semi-autonomous region.

“This party has lost the road since a long time ago and its current leadership is unable to continue to walk on the line adopted by the party founder, William Deng and his colleagues who argued that the federal system is the best solution.”

SANU leaders could not walk on with the idea and finally gave in to the general atmosphere prevailing in the south, Qutbi further stressed.

SANU, founded in Uganda in 1963 by late Fr. Saturino Lahoru, was fighting for the right of all the marginalized people of Sudan including Darfur, Eastern Sudan, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile.

(ST)