Statements of Umma’s Mahdi add insult to injury
By Mahmoud A. Suleiman
November 10, 2011 — The political position of the National Umma Party (NUP) leader, al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, in relation to the genocidal regime of the National Congress Party (NCP), continues to be flawed. Apparently, lessons from the kind of insults and humiliations inflicted by the NCP regime upon his National Umma Party (NUP) and the atrocities it committed against the National Umma Party constituents in Darfur have not yet been learnt by Sadiq al-Mahdi.
The London-based Arabic newspaper, ASharq Al-Awsat Reporter, Ahmed al-Tahiry interviewed Sayed al-Mahdi who made his usual statements on several issues among which he included the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in an unsavoury assertion repeating the very allegations orchestrated by the NCP regime’s propaganda machine (SMC), Al-Mahdi made random accusations without evidence against the Darfuri movement, rehearsing what the elements in the NCP despotic establishment have been chanting. In that he has claimed that JEM leader was given save haven by Colonel Gaddafi and offered him enormous moral and material support. Al-Mahdi also alleged that huge amounts of weapons and large quantities of money entered Darfur through Libya.
Nevertheless, Sadiq al-Mahdi did not dare to say a word about the Iranian Revolutionary Guard elements who have been camping in the North Darfur State capital al-Fasher to guard the chemical and other potentially dangerous weapons reportedly looted during the chaos caused by the Libyan uprising. In doing so, the Ansar Imam has joined those who spread myths and fantasies about the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). This is in spite of the alliances which the National Umma Party (NUP) signed agreements and alliances to reconcile the political positions against the ruling Nationals Congress Party (NCP).
Moreover, some political observers believe that the attitude of the Imam might be attributed to his mixed feelings of threat from and envy towards the Darfur rebel movements who are the future political parties when a just and sustainable peace is achieved. The real threat felt by al-Sadiq is the potential loss of the traditional constituents who used to cast their ballots papers automatically to the Umma Party.
Political analysts and historians in recent Sudanese affairs indicate that al-Sadiqal-Mahdi should be the last person to talk about Colonel Gaddafi’s support. The following facts speak for themselves:
1- In the 1976, Sadiq al-Mahdi was the Leader of the National Front which attacked Khartoum from Libya. That front was trained, financed and used the Libyan territories as a base for its fighters.
2- Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi received the late Colonel Gaddafi’s support ever since. He visited Gaddafi very recently, just 2 months before the start of the Libyan Revolution, seeking support. There were unconfirmed rumours that he received a substantial amount of money from the former Libyan leader.
3- It was a well known fact that al-Sadiq al-Mahdi received the support of the late Colonel Gaddafi during the general elections of 1986, in the form of money and four wheel drive vehicles.
4- Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi was the first to allow entry of weapons to Darfur in the 1980s through the ‘Islamic Legion’ of Gaddafi. Furthermore, al-Mahdi was prime minister of Sudan in 1987 when a group calling themselves ‘Guraish’ wrote an ‘Arab letter,’ adopting the infamous ‘Arab belt’ ideology of Gaddafi, demanding recognition and support.
Sadiq al-Mahdi, then the Prime Minister, put up with that letter which carried Qaddafi’s expansionist dreams. The letter was open and unashamed of its supremacy claim over other citizens in Darfur. The ‘Arab belt’ ideology was the seed for the real foundation of the notorious Janjaweed organisation in Darfur. Ironically, at the time, Dr. Tigani Sessei was the Governor of the Greater Darfur Region. Tigani Sessei, an Umma Party affiliate, turned a blind eye on the Islamic Legion violations and crimes against the civilian population in Darfur. The rest is history.
Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi was aware and knowledgeable of the situation of the leader of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, in Libya. Since Dr. Khalil and his entourage were denied to cross the borders to his forces in Darfur by the Chadian authorities, he had been virtually under house arrest in Tripoli. His stay in Libya was a result of a coordinated conspiracy by various entities that planned to force him to sign a forged done deal at the Qatari capital Doha with the National Congress Party regime, renowned for revoking covenants and abrogating agreements. There were number of groups who had vested interest in Dr. Khalil Ibrahim to remain as a hostage in a Tripoli hotel, deprived from joining his forces in the field in the Darfur region.
Political analysts indicate that Sadig al-Mahdi’s statements, even to his Umma party base, can be described at best as foggy, confusing and controversial at worst. More and more people are viewing his stands are counterproductive, or even suspicious and conspicuously conspiratorial; helping the National Congress Party (NCP) government agenda rather than the interests of his base and the cause of the Sudanese people.
Many observers believe that Sadiq al-Mahdi is no longer has any significant political role useful to for the people of Sudan of today. The Sudanese public find what he says or writes on the current political events in Sudan as repetitive, tasteless, meaningless and serves the interests of his associate and ally, the ICC indicted fugitive Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir.
Al-Sadiq’s foggy position with the NCP is one of the factors that are facilitating to prolong the chances of the regime staying in power and hampering the potential uprising of the Sudanese youth to oust the hateful NCP government. Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi has recently claimed that the coalition of the marginalised people will result in repetition of the atrocities of Rwanda. In saying that Al-Sadig forgot that there could not have been a Mahdist revolution if not for the role played by the people of the margin; and he could not have ascended to the seat of premiership without the people of the margin.
However, the people of Sudan have teamed up through their different organisations to bring about regime change. The main goal of which would be uproot the remnants of the infamous National Islamic Front (NIF) and throw them into the garbage bin of the history as has happened recently to its counterparts in the neighbouring Arab countries.
The Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has always reaffirmed that it bears no animosity towards any ethnicity or people from a certain regional background. The behaviour of its forces in Omdurman on 10th May 2008 during the military codenamed Operation Long Arm (OLA) was clear evidence that its target was the NCP regime that replicated the atrocities of Rwanda all over the Sudan and damaged social fabric of the Sudanese people beyond repair.
Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is the Deputy Chairman of the General Congress for Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). He can be reached at [email protected]