Sudan’s DUP regrets ruling party’s attitude during talks
October 4, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has voiced dissatisfaction with the way in which the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) responded to its proposals during talks aiming to bring the mainstream opposition to participate in the upcoming government.
The DUP, which is led by Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani, stressed it was not seeking “an artificial participation in the government.”
“The content of your memo [in response] to our proposals means your lack of desire in engaging positively with the clear proposals and views our party had presented,” the DUP said.
This announcement is likely to add pressure on the NCP whose parallel talks with the other mainstream opposition National Ummah Party (NUP) of former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi officially ended on Tuesday without an agreement on participation in the new government.
However, the DUP left the door open for further consultations, saying that its leader Al-Mirghani had instructed the party’s dialogue committee to continue contacts with the NCP.
Meanwhile, the NCP’s vice-chairman Nafi Ali Nafi said in statements reported by Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA) on Wednesday that the dialogue with the NUP and DUP did not produce an agreement on participation in the government but it would continue on other issues.
Nafi also revealed that more clarifications on the dialogue would be made following a meeting to be held soon between Al-Mahdi and president Al-Bashir.
He further explained that the dialogue was confined to the NUP and DUP because other political forces already declared positions refusing participation in the government.
Referring to the Sudanese Communist Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) along with its allies, Nafi said that these parties confirmed that they do not want to participate and the NCP also does not want them to participate.
(ST)