DUP dismisses reports it has withdrawn from Sudanese government

December 22, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani dismissed reports about its withdrawal from the government of president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

The party’s spokesperson Ibrahim Al-Mirghani made the denial in a press statement issued on Sunday after publication of reports saying that the DUP leader had frozen the ministers who recently joined the new government of the National Congress Party (NCP).

“What has been rumoured about the freezing of DUP ministers is no more that speculations and personal opinion that do not represent the party and its institutions”, said Ibrahim Al-Mirghani.

He further said the participation of the DUP ministers is not affected by the ministerial change operated among the NCP ministers, underscoring that only the party leadership and its leader can decide on such matters.

Ibrahim Nayel , a DUP leading figure, on Sunday told the daily newspaper, Akhir Lahza, that the ministers breached directives issued by Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani, accusing some of the party’s members of being corrupted by the ruling party.

Following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, the DUP decided to join the government of president Omer Al-Bashir saying the country is facing difficult situations and its unity and territorial integrity is threatened.

However this decision was rejected by a large number of the party’s leadership and its supporters but Al-Mirghani stuck to his decision.

Sudanese presidential assistant Gaffar Al-Sadiq Al-Mirghani, who is also the son of DUP leader congratulated on Sunday the new first vice-president Bakri Hassan Saleh for his appointment at this position.

(ST)