Sudan’s VP says opposition should participate in new constitution

October 21, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s Second Vice President Al-Haj Adam Youssef reaffirmed Sunday the role of National Umma Party (NUP) in the ongoing efforts to prepare a new constitution in the country after the secession of South Sudan.

Speaking to reporters in Omdurman outside the house of the Umma Party’s leader Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi after a meeting with the former prime minister, Al-Haj expressed hope that all Sudan’s political forces will participate in the elaboration of the new constitution in order to have a text reflecting a united vision, accepted by all Sudanese.

National Congress Party spokesperson, Badr Al-Din Ahmed Ibrahim said the meeting comes in the context of continued consultations between the two parties on key issues raised in the country such as the constitution and peace agreements.

Al-Haj said he informed Al-Mahdi about the ongoing efforts to achieve peace in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Since the secession of South Sudan, President Al-Bashir pledged that Sudan would have an Islamic constitution.

The Umma Party is calling for national conference including all the political forces and rebel groups to discuss the new constitution but also solutions to the different conflicts in the country.

The opposition party, which says it is in favour of a liberal and democratic constitution where the religion intervenes only on issues related the personal status, says the new constitution should be prepared in an healthy atmosphere where the freedom of expression is guaranteed to all .

The vice president told reporters that Al-Mahdi pledged to send him a written message to explain the Umma Party’s position on the issues he raised with him.

The Umma Party is accused by the other opposition forces of holding an ambiguous position as it preaches for dialogue with the regime and criticises rebel groups who speak about the use of violence to topple the regime.

Explaining his position on this point, Sadiq Al-Mahdi said on Saturday that “there are those who want to fight. We do not prevent them but we will not stand by them.”

He went further to says that the rebels are actually obstructing the efforts to overthrow the regime by civil disobedience. Because people fear if they take the street, the rebels will attack towns and fighting will take place in the streets of the Sudan’s towns and cities.

(ST)