Sudan’s opposition requests inclusion in talks with Juba
May 26, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The main opposition coalition in Sudan has informed African Union’s (AU) mediator, Thabo Mbeki, of its insistence on participating in negotiations between the country’s government and South Sudan.
The National Consensus Forces (NCF), a coalition of mainstream opposition groups including the National Umma Party (NUP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP), revealed on Friday that it has sent a letter to former South African President Mbeki requesting its inclusion in the talks as a representative of the people.
“We insist on becoming a third party in any negotiations or dialogue” the NCF’s chairman told Al-Sahafah an independent daily newspaper, stating at some point during the talks that their parties represent “the absent people of Sudan”.
Abu Issa said that the process of excluding others is responsible for the degeneration of relations between the two countries.
“I have officially communicated our request to [Mbeki]” he said before adding that South Africa’s ambassador in Khartoum has welcomed the move.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has cautiously welcomed the opposition initiative, saying that any domestic contribution to the dialogue with South Sudan must be done according to “national agendas”.
NCP spokesperson Badr Al-Din Ahmad Ibrahim on Friday told the Sudanese Media Center (SMC), a pro-government news website, that his party would respond positively to any initiative on the condition that it abides by the “common denominator of national agendas.”
He further warned that his party would reject any initiative “bearing ideas and agendas that serve the interests of foreign quarters.”
(ST)