Sudan’s DUP calls upon government and opposition to make compromises

January 25, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Hatem al-Sir Ali, the leading figure at the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, has called upon opposition parties and government to make compromises in order to overcome the difficult situation facing Sudan and agree on major national issues.

Al-Sir told the pro-government Ashorooq TV that resolving Sudan’s problems is contingent upon creating an conducive environment to achieve national consensus, emphasizing the need for a strong political will from all political parties including the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

He noted that the meeting of the DUP delegation with president Omer Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday concluded that the new phase necessitates reaching national consensus.

The DUP official further said the meeting was a preliminary one, adding that they discussed political issues and challenges and reached common understandings adding that both parties agreed to continue dialogue.

Al-Sir said that political forces should refrain from adopting exclusionary policies, saying that all sides must make concessions.

He said the political initiative launched by his party leader seeks to bring all political forces to a national dialogue in order to tackle issues of war, economy, freedoms, foreign relations and the new constitution.

The DUP leading figure also called for drafting a national constitution which reflects aspirations of all Sudanese people.

But the head of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF), Farouq Abu Issa, said that compromises should be made by the NCP and not the opposition.

“The oppressor must make the compromises not the oppressed. We were oppressed by the government,” he said.

Abu-Issa called for establishing a transitional government that organizes a constitutional conference in order to offer the necessary solutions for the Sudanese crisis.

He said according to al-Meghar daily newspaper on Saturday that the current regime must be removed and its policies must be annulled, asserting they are only concerned about the future of Sudan and its unity.

The head of the NCF further pointed they call for cancelling restrictive laws and establishing an interim government.

The NCP is putting the final touches on a major proposal for political reform in Sudan which would form the basis for dialogue with other political parties.

Bashir was reportedly working on this initiative since last year that was meant to set the stage for political transformation in a country gripped by conflict and crises for decades.

(ST)