Sudan threatens to ban political parties dealing with rebels
January 10, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir has raised the spectre of banning political parties that conclude political alliance with rebel groups, the interior minister announced Thursday.
The Sudanese officials immediately criticized opposition forces for sealing such political agreement with the rebels and warned they will deal decisively with them.
Besides its criticism for gathering with the rebels who fight the government in South Kordofan, Darfur and Blue Nile, the government said the deal is against Islamic constitution.
After a meeting on Thursday with the president Al-Bashir, minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed told reporters that the State welcomes everyone who wants to exercise his political role and political rights in accordance with the laws of political parties and other applicable laws.
“The state will not allow (political) forces dealing with the insurgency and outlaws since they call to violence and the use of arms” to bring down the regime, Bashir said according to the minister.
The law of political parties in Sudan does not authorise armed groups to exercise political activities or to participate in the elections unless they disband their armed wing.
The minister said he further discussed with the president ways to ensure security in the country after the “recent threats” resulted from the meeting between “some parties, rebels and outlaws”.
He added that this development implies to review plans to deal with “who have joined the rebellion and treason to destabilise security”.
Security services arrested recently five opposition members after their return from Kampala where they participated in the meeting with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front.
Different opposition forces expressed reservations over the charter as they have to discuss it before signing the final version in a ceremony attended by the leaders of the political parties.
(ST)
