DUP sticks to decision to quit Sudanese government: official

November 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A leading member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Saturday reiterated that his party will not reverse its decision to withdraw from a coalition government led by the National Congress Party (NCP).

Last September following the government decision to lift subsidies on basic commodities for the second time, the party’s leader Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani formed a committee led by Hassan Abu Sabeib to decide on whether or not to withdraw from the national government.

However, the DUP ministers continued to participate in the government despite the committee’s decision to quit the cabinet. Also, some DUP officials stated that Al-Mirghani considers that implementation of such decision is contrary to the interest of the country.

The membership of the party and its supporters refuse to abandon the decision taken by the committee tasked with the matter, Abu Sabeib said in statements to Ashorooq TV. He further described as “untrue” any statements against this decision.

To be effective the decision to withdraw from the coalition government requires the approval of the leader of the second important political party in Sudan before a coup d’état that brought Bashir to power in June 1989.

In November 2011, Mirghani decided against the dominant opinion in the party to participate in the national government led by the National Congress Party, invoking threats to the unity of the country and its territorial integrity.

The decision was motivated by the SPLM-N insurgency in South Kordofan and the secession of South Sudan as well as the continuation of a rebellion in Darfur region.

The NCP government which faces rebel groups in different areas in southern and western states of the country seeks to maintain the DUP in the national government and to persuade the Umma party to join them.

Recently opposition groups including the Popular Congress Party of Hassan Al-Turabi and the Communist Party said they would work the alliance of the rebel groups to reach a joint charter for a new regime after the fall of Bashir regime. They further rejected proposals made by the Umma party of sadiq Al-Mahdi to restructure the opposition coalition.

The Northern state governor announced last week an agreement with the DUP to increase its participation in the state government from three to five seats.

(ST)