Sudanese opposition parties want peace protocols to become national

KHARTOUM, May 28, 2004 (KUNA) — Sudanese opposition parties want the six peace protocols signed by the Sudanese Government and rebel leader John Garang to become a national agreement with the participation of all political powers, a number of opposition leaders said in statements to KUNA.

Other opposition leaders meanwhile warned that neglecting other political parties would threaten peace in the future.

Leader of the opposition Ummah Party Sadeq al-Mahdi said his party welcomed the agreement signed in Neifasha as it puts an end to the war, but he warned of a bilateral solution.

Al-Mahdi said that his party will claim a stand regarding the protocols of sharing sovereignty and the areas subject of conflict after studying them during the Saturday meeting.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of the opposing Democratic Unionist Party Ali Hasanain said that his party will study the agreement after receiving its details.

Hasanain believes that keeping the agreement between the government and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and not including the other parties in it will not solve the problem, calling for converting it to a national protocol.

Farouq Kadodah, a leader in the Sudanese Communist Party, asserted the importance of converting bilateral agreement to a national protocol, while welcoming the signed protocols ending the longest civil war in Africa.

The Secretary General of the National Congress Party Abdullah Hasan Ahmed said that all the political powers did not participate in any of the negotiations’ sessions and have no idea about the reached agreements, and so they will not be responsible for what the SPLM and the government have agreed on.

The Sudanese Government and the SPLM have been having peace talks sponsored by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The peace talks ended with signing a number of peace protocols regarding sovereignty and wealth.