SRF rebels more realistic than some Sudanese opponents: Mahdi

April 19, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of the opposition National Umma Party, Saddiq Al-Mahdi said rebels of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front are more realistic than some opposition thinkers in Khartoum who believe that the regime can be overthrown.

Al-Mahdi who since last year suspended the membership of his party in the opposition umbrella of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) was commenting on the position of the latter which refuses to participate in a national dialogue initiated by the president Omer Al-Bashir.

“In my opinion, there are elements inside the Sudan betting that the Sudanese issue can be resolved through a revolutionary action led by the Revolutionary Front, and as long as there is a reflection of this kind , there will be a bet,” said Mahdi in an interview with Al-Hayat daily newspaper published on Saturday.

He further said that the SRF “is more realistic than many opposition theoreticians inside Sudan” because they realise how difficult for them to get the needed logistical support from “neighbouring countries” and to cover their expenditures adding they need some $2 million per month.

“Now they are conscious that a decisive invasion of Khartoum is impossible , and even if it happens that would open the door to new confrontations,” he stressed.

The leader of the largest opposition party was alluding to the NCF alliance, which now after freezing the membership of the Popular Congress Party of Hassan Al-Turabi, gathers the Sudanese communist party and some small political parties.

COMMITTED TO COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

Al-Mahdi however reiterated his commitment to a comprehensive solution, pointing out that the current political situation in the country requires “to put aside the old-style solution of bilateral agreements”.

He added that all the “legitimate demands” for a decentralised state, wealth sharing, civilian state, and multiculturalism can be included in a peace agreement and the new constitution.

The opposition leader since two years expressed his opposition to the armed struggle and called on the rebel groups to negotiate a peaceful solution.

His stance has been criticised by the SRF forces which described him as “objective ally” of Bashir’s regime.

The NUP leader emphasised that the opposition forces have to engage in the dialogue, asserting they will not lose anything because if the process fails to bring democratic change at least it will strengthen them.

Mahdi said that his party rejected three propositions the regime had made in 1993, 1996 and 2001 and he does not see why today he accepts to rally the weakened regime now.

(ST)