Sudan’s presidential assistant calls for regional confederation
March 4, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s presidential assistant Abdel Rahman al-Mahdi has called for a confederation between his country, Egypt and South Sudan among others, saying it will be a boon for the entire region.
Addressing the audience, the Sudanese official said that an Arab-Afro confederation between Sudan, Egypt, South Sudan and other neighbouring countries would serve their common interests.
The mainly Christian-African South Sudan split from the Arab-Muslim Sudan in July last year and has since realigned itself with east African neighbours and away from the Arab milieu.
In a different context, Al-Mahdi sought to dispel accusations that Sudan’s National Umma Party (NUP) is hostile to Egypt. According to him, the NUP was against the Egyptian crown, against which the Egyptian themselves rose in 1952.
Al-Mahdi defence of the NUP is inconsistent with his previous assertions that he had resigned from the party and no longer has ties to it following his appointment in November last year as an assistant to President Bashir.
His appointment followed the refusal by the NUP, which is led by his father and former Prime Minister Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, to join the government of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Similarly, the NUP sought to distance itself from Al-Mahdi’s appointment, saying he represents only himself and not the party.
(ST)