Sudan’s DUP says Mirghani to meet with president Bashir to discuss cabinet shuffle

July 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani, has disclosed that its leader will meet with Sudan’s president Omer Hassan al-Bashir soon to discuss the current political situation as well as determining the DUP’s share in the upcoming cabinet.

The DUP’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Mirghani, said in press statements on Tuesday that the joint committee between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the DUP is following up on the 2011 partnership agreement between the two parties.

He said that the DUP has embarked on new discussions with the NCP on its share in the new cabinet.

The party official pointed that a meeting between Bashir and Al-Mirghani will be held soon, following the latter’s meeting with the First Vice President Ali Osman Taha, which tackled the current political situation.

Al-Mirghani further reiterated his party’s commitment to continue being part of the NCP-dominated government stressing that their decision to join was in response to a national necessity. He called on the government to open the door for all Sudanese forces to participate in drafting the permanent constitution.

Al-Mirghani’s DUP joined the government in December 2011, despite reports of internal dissent and against the wishes of Sudan’s other main opposition parties who have formed an alliance to try and end Bashir’s 22-year rule.

The decision drew anger among the party’s and even some of al-Mirghani’s aides.

Hatim Al-Sir, the party’s candidate for the presidential elections in April 2010, considered the withdrawal from the government as “national duty and party responsibility”.

Many observers say that the DUP’s role in the government is marginal as the NCP exercises hegemony over decision making.

(ST)