North Sudan: NCP accuses political parties of seeking to thwart dialogue with NUP
March 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in north Sudan has accused some parties with the opposition coalition of seeking to scuttle its bilateral dialogue with the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) led by Sudan’s former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi.
The rifts within the opposition coalition first emerged when Al-Mahdi held a surprise meeting with Al-Bashir in January this year at a time when other opposition parties were pushing for confrontation with the NCP, which they blame for a long list of failures including the secession of south Sudan and worsening economic conditions.
Informed sources within the NCF told Sudan Tribune that Al-Mahdi’s decision to hold dialogue with the NCP gives a strong indication that his alliance with other opposition parties was doomed to end, saying that opposition parties would call for an urgent meeting to consider a decision to expel the NUP from the opposition alliance.
Ibrahim Gandoor, the NCP’s political secretary, on Sunday told the Sudanese Media Center (SMC), a news service closely linked to the country’s intelligence crops, that his party would not heed the voices trying to “torpedo” its dialogue with the NUP, adding that those voices were actuated by “personal agendas” known to his party and the NUP.
Gandoor further said that those calling for an end to the NUP-NCP dialogue were “deliberately turning a blind eye to the reality of his party’s dialogue-oriented approach towards all political forces.”
Meanwhile, the NCP’s political sector was briefed on Sunday about the progress of dialogue with political forces, especially the NUP and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
The party’s leading member Haj Magid Siwar said that his party was willing to conduct a dialogue with its splinter group the Popular Congress Party (PCP), whose leader Hassan Al-Turabi remains in detention over his calls for a revolt against the government, if the latter accepted the deal.
Political tension in north Sudan has escalated against the background of worsening economic conditions caused by rising inflation and shortage of foreign currency reserves as well as the secession of south Sudan which voted for independence in a referendum earlier this year.
(ST)
harry
North Sudan: NCP accuses political parties of seeking to thwart dialogue with NUP
Breaking news,
Ismail koney, the Murle leader has defected.
Paul Ongee
North Sudan: NCP accuses political parties of seeking to thwart dialogue with NUP
2011 is a historic year for Africa
(From yesterday Issue – The Citizen newspaper)
In this year, there are key elections in 27 various Africans countries on legislative, parliamentary and presidential levels.
It seems that 2011 will be a historic year of Africa with popular uprisings, referendums, presidential elections and a new-born state. In a couple of months, the continent witness high level of evolution that certainly has huge social, economic and political impact on Africa in general. Besides ongoing massive youth demonstrations in North Africa and South Sudan’s separation from Sudan, in this year there are legislative, parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled in not fewer than 20 different states across the continent. Through these elections democratic level and understanding of democracy will be tested in Africa where dictators are still dominant factor in a lot of countries. It might be a year observing democratic improvement to some extent and perhaps suffering of dictatorial regimes to remain.
Semi-autonomous South Sudan has already obtained chance to announce its independence in July after the historic referendum result accepted officially by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan. Youth of Tunisia and Egypt has demolished longstanding dictatorial regimes of their countries. Tunisia ex-president has fled to Saudi Arabia with tons of gold cost billions of dollars. Mubarak despotism has finally ended after huge demonstrations in the liberation Square.
In these days, Libya’s regime is under huge pressure from the United Nations and international community. Gaddafi regime is enjoying its last days in Libya. Chad has recently held parliamentary elections while Uganda and Niger have held elections for presidency. Ivory Coast is still tense due to conflict between supporters of two rival presidential candidates after the recent elections. We saw all these in two months’ time. I think Africa will witness more than that during the rest of 2011. The continent will observe conflict between democracy believers and dictatorial regime supporters.
In this year, there are key elections in 27 various African countries on legislative, parliamentary and presidential levels. For presidency and national assembly, in April there will be crucial elections in Nigeria where tension still exists between Muslims and Christian communities. In the same month Djibouti will hold presidential elections as well. While Benin will hold parliamentary election, Liberia will hold parliamentary, presidential elections and constitutional referendum in this year. Madagascar, Gambia, Chad, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Rwanda, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tunisia and Egypt are also ahead of the polls in this year.
Political experts and analysts devote special attention to Africa in 2011 due to busy election season. It seems hopes and frustrations are mixed for expectations on the process of democracy. According to some analysts, nothing will change after doubtful polls while for the others there is still hope. However, some central questions require to be answered. Will these elections be well-managed, credible, free and fair? Which mechanism will stop incumbent dictators from buying votes, bribery, intimidating on opposition groups during campaigns and using state media tools unequally?
It is not easy process to remove dictators from their posts, especially in natural resource-rich states. Although they struggle, they will resist. In Libya, Gaddafi assures to remain and resist until his last blood like Mubarak did in Egypt. After controversial elections in the last November, there are two presidents in Ivory Coast; one elected and one self-appointed. While the country faces civil war in these days, international community is already concerned by the increase of death toll. Defeated ex-president’s supports are killing any demonstrators on the streets tp keep the former regime alive. Mainly because of fighting between rival groups, around 450, 000 people were displaced in a short period and some fled to Liberia. In Zimbabwe, more than fifty people were arrested by security forces in last month while they were watching footage of Egypt uprising video. Some other African dictators have given harsh speeches warning and threatening any street demonstrations seekers.
However, it would be considered that perhaps millions of young African under the influence of recent youth movements in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya will go to polls for the first time in their life and elect their leaders and parliaments throughout 2011. They will vote for their future and the future of corrupt dictatorial regimes existing in Africa for decades. The youngest continent on earth will be changed by youth. There is hope and democratic election is the safest way to change political atmosphere that shaped by dictators in favor of their own self-interest. I think, North Africa uprisings will make positive effect on the rest of the continent and opposition groups will be braver than during the election processes.
We will see how uprisings, democratic polls and separation of South Sudan will reshape political landscape of the continent. We will also see whether expectations of youth for better future will be met or not and how leader profile will change at the end of the day. A historic battle has already taken place. We will wait and see who will be the winner; freedom believers or dictators?
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By Paul Ongee
Khartoum, Sudan