Sudan’s ruling party rejects calls to remove South Kordofan governor

February 19, 2012 (Khartoum) — The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) rejected calls to remove Ahmed Haroun, governor of the war-torn province of South Kordofan, after criticisms directed against him by local tribal leaders for his mismanagement of the state’s affairs.

Abdel-Rasoul al-Nur, a tribal leader of the Misseryia tribe called on Saturday to dismiss Haroun and to appoint a military governor in the South Kordofan where the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) is fighting against the government’s army since June 2011.

“The current administration is part of the problem,” Abdel Rasoul said. He further blamed Haroun for not consulting South Kordofan tribes to end the ongoing conflict and preferring the military option.

However, the head of NCP political sector Qutbi Mahdi Sunday minimized the criticisms addressed against Haroun, saying there are voices in the different states of the country against the government, the president and the regime but they remains “political opinions”.

“But Ahmed Haroun is an elected governor, and therefore the requirements of democracy provide to give him opportunities and support him to lead his mission,” Qutbi said to explain the position of the party.

He went further to add that “if the presidency is fully convinced that the situation requires the removal of this official or to maintain that one then things will take another turn.”

Haroun was criticized by several Misseriya leaders since the start of hostilities in the region. They said he was very pleasant with his deputy and SPLM-N deputy leader Abdel Aziz Hilu in the past before June 2011.

Haroun, from the Bargo tribe of North Kordofan, is one of three Sudanese including President Omer Hassan al-Bashir, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and atrocities committed in Darfur region during the period of 2003-2004.

President Bashir refused to hand him over to the ICC and since is seen as one of his protégées. Before May 2011 elections in South Kordofan, Haroun was praised by the SPLM leadership which considered him as good interlocutor.

The Misseryia who dispute the ownership of Abyei with the South Sudan were not happy with the smooth partnership he had established with the former rebels.

(ST)