Al-Mahdi’s son discusses national dialogue with Bashir
December 14, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir underscored that his country is in dire need of national reconciliation, stressing that it represents a strategic direction by the government necessitated by rapid changes on the political, economic and social levels.
Bashir launched a national dialogue initiative last January in which he urged opposition parties and rebels alike to join the dialogue table to discuss all the pressing issues.
But the initiative faced serious setback after rebel groups and leftist parties refused to join and after the NUP withdrew from the process in protest of al-Mahdi’s brief arrest earlier this year.
Two weeks ago the NUP was among a number of Sudanese political and armed opposition forces and civil society organisations that signed the “Sudan Call” accord in Addis Ababa that appeals for ending the war, dismantlement of the one-party state, achievement of a comprehensive peace and democratic transition in the country.
WARNING TO OPPOSITION
The agreement infuriated Bashir who accused the signatories on Saturday of being mercenaries and agents of foreign powers, warning them against returning to the country.
He also challenged them to show up in the battlefield in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.
Last Saturday, authorities arrested chairman of the opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) Farouk Abu Essa and prominent human rights defender Amin Mekki Madani for signing the Sudan Call.
Bashir has also vowed to prosecute al-Mahdi who has been based in Cairo since August after the signing of the Paris Declaration with rebel groups unless he disavows it.
Bashir discussed on Sunday with al-Mahdi’s son at the presidential palace a number of political issues, including the national dialogue and objections of political forces.
Abdelrahman was quoted by Sudan news agency (SUNA) as saying that the meeting was significant and positive, noting that it dealt with the current political situation in the country and all current and important issues.
He added that Bashir confirmed their commitment to the national dialogue to reach the desired goal and that national dialogue is strategic objective that is not affected by bumps on the road.
“The meeting touched on the issue of forces outside the dialogue and ways to bring them on board the dialogue and concessions that must be made to all parties as well as the required dues within this framework of dialogue,” he said.
The presidential assistant expressed confidence that the leadership is capable of reaching big positives in those issues.
CHANGES PROMPT RECONCILIATION
In a separate venue, Bashir who addressed the National Council for Strategic Planning, stressing the country’s need for national consensus, saying it is a strategic direction of the state, pointing to the political, economic and social changes experienced by Sudan at an accelerated pace over recent years, adding that political changes were the predominant ones.
The Sudanese president emphasised that these developments prompted the government to complete the reconciliation with due diligence and dedication and enforce atmosphere of political stability and the completion of the canons of governance and mechanisms that are based on democratic development and the federal system and paying extra attention to security, stability and development and reconstruction.
“We hope that national dialogue would reach a consensus that would shape the future of Sudan, and through which we seek to identify strategic interests through a radical approach to the peace process,” he said.
US ENVOY MEETS Al-MAHDI
In a related development, the NUP chief met with US special envoy for the Sudans Donald Booth in Cairo.
According to a brief statement by his office, the two men discussed the Paris Declaration and the Sudan Call as ways to achieve peace and democratic transformation.
They also discussed the role the US can play in restoring peace and stability in Sudan.
(ST)