Sudan’s NCP rules out new split among Islamists
January 16, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — A leading figure in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, ruled out new dissidence within the Sudanese Islamists after the release of a memorandum criticizing the management of the country and asking for reforms.
The memorandum addressed to President Omer Al-Bashir, who also the NCP chairman, stigmatizes the poor governance and corruption of the government, asks to separate between the party and the government as well as to ban government officials from doing business.
The authors of the memo are believed to be among those Mujahidin (holy warriors) who fought in the past in the South Sudan, but gradually find themselves marginalized from the power held by Bashir and his assistant Nafie Ali Nafie.
Speaking to the press on Sunday evening Ibrahim who is also a presidential adviser dismissed that the memo, signed by about one thousand Sudanese Islamists, might lead to a new spilt in the Islamist movement alluding to the split of al-Turabi in 1999.
He further said that the petition deals with issues widely traded and discussed within the Party. He pointed out that many questions cited in the memo were debated during the NCP convention held in December last year.
Ibrahim who severely criticized the performance of the party during that convention stressed that the ruling party might discuss the issues mentioned in the memo if they are raised formally and in accordance with the due process.
Some circles within the ruling party insinuate that the memo was written and released by supporters of Hassan al-Turabi who formed his Popular Congress Party after a memo against him prepared by Ali Osman Taha, his former disciple, and Bashir’s vice-president.
The director of the National Intelligence and Security Service Mohamed Atta accused earlier this month Turabi’s party, the Popular Congress Party, of plotting with the rebel groups to overthrow the regime.
One of his close aides, Ibrahim Sanwsi is under arrest since 20 December; after his return to Khartoum after a visit to the capital of South Sudan where the rebels are allegedly based.
(ST)