Sudan’s ruling party considers changing its name to Hizbollah – official

February 15, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Karam Allah Abbas, governor of Gadaref state and head of the National Congress Party (NCP) in the eastern Sudan province disclosed that there is a trend within the ruling party wanting to change its name to Hizbollah (Party of God).

The governor who was speaking on Tuesday before the members of his new government after the swearing-in ceremony, said a such change of name is meant to confirm the NCP’s adherence to the implementation of the Islamic law, Sharia, in Sudan.

Since the secession of South Sudan and the end of the interim period provided in the 2005 peace agreement with the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), President Omer al-Bashir reiterated several times his commitment to establish an Islamic state in the country.

Some factions within the ruling party and the Sudanese Islamic movement press the government to found a state rooted in the Islamic law and call to ignore any compromise with the opposition or rebel groups over this issue.

Recently memorandums were circulated by Sudanese Islamists in Khartoum calling to reform the party and to establish an Islamic state in the Sudan. However, the members of the Islamic movement clearly diverge on how to ensure its implementation and the role of the party in this regard.

Karam Allah called on the opposition parties “to sit under a tree” with the government and to give up what he called “the whims of the soul and the private agendas” to determine the future of the country.

The governor underscored that the parties should further negotiate their participation in a national government led by President Bashir. He pointed out that this government should include the regular forces (army and police).

The outcome of the talks with the opposition should serve to define the objectives of the interim period which should be followed by general elections, he emphasized.

Among the three main opposition political forces, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has already joined a coalition government led by the ruling NCP. The National Umma Party (NUP) of Sadiq al-Mahdi and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) of Hassan al-Turabi refuse to join the ruling party are pose some conditions.

There are no political talks with the armed rebel groups in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan who demand a secular state and say determined to topple the NCP regime.

(ST)