Bashir’s uncle criticises NCP over arrogance towards opposition forces

December 17, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The chairman of Just Peace Forum (JPF) al-Tayeb Mustafa said that senior officials in Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) are privately expressing displeasure with “arrogant” attitude of the party towards opposition forces as well as plans to hold the elections in April 2015.

Mustafa, who is president Omer Hassan al-Bashir’s maternal uncle, said in his daily column in al-Saiha newspaper he owns, that the NCP is in need of someone to convince it that it is “fighting” a lost battle thus isolating itself even from its own self by insisting on going forward with a lost elections by all standards”.

“I do not mean the financial loss incurred by the people and the nation of 80 billion pounds of which it is in need against starvation and poverty, but I mean the other political loss that is the mostly deadly to its future that its fraught with dangers of devastating catastrophe,” he said.

Mustafa is best known for his hardline positions against South Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) fighting the government in Blue Nile and South Kordofan. He was a fierce proponent of South Sudan’s secession.

JPF is one of the parties that are taking part in the national dialogue process launched by Bashir last January.

The JPF head said that he sensed from what he heard from the “heart” of the NCP and some unnamed members of the committee tasked with amending the constitution that they object to the elections being held on time because it conflicts with article 224 of the interim constitution.

He noted said that the NCP is using sharp language and abusive methods in the face of dissidents.

“Why is [the NCP] isolating itself daily even from its closest allies who share its judgement even if their participation [in government] was sham,” Mustafa said.

“Why do we have this tyranny which is condemned not in only in the Quran of God, but even in Sudanese norms and habit which tends to pardon and forgive,” he added.

He mentioned that the head of the National Umma Party (NUP) al-Sadiq al-Mahdi gave a strong impetus for national dialogue when launched by Bashir but withdrew after “abhorrent” move against him that was approved only by a few people.

Al-Mahdi was arrested for a one month period last May for criticizing alleged crimes and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Force (RSF) government militia in conflict zones. During his arrest, the part decided to withdraw from the national dialogue.

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.

The agreement infuriated Bashir who accused the signatories on 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.

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.

The JPF chairman argued that the regime’s actions toward the Mahdi created a domino effect and that authorities realized later it was a mistake.

He swore that many prominent officials inside the NCP are disapproving of such arrogant attitude but are afraid to say that publicly.

Mustafa underscored that the NCP through its foolish policies is waging war on itself and the “stricken” nation.

“The NCP is pushing al-Mahdi and many of the political forces towards the swamp of [SPLM-N chairman Yasir] Arman and his movement and pushing the country towards the abyss that we see its manifestations in other countries around us,” he said.

(ST)