RNM says national dialogue in “serious trouble”, vows to boycott elections

January 12, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Reform Now Movement (RNM) warned on Monday that the national dialogue process is in “serious trouble” due to Khartoum’s backpedalling on its obligations towards the outcome of the dialogue’s General Assembly.

In a statement following the politburo meeting, the opposition party stated that the recent constitutional amendments and the upcoming elections lack the popular support and legal legitimacy adding that it is working on resisting it through lawful means.

Sudan’s president Omer Hassan al-Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative a year ago 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 setbacks after rebel groups and leftist parties refused to join and after the National Umma Party (NUP) withdrew from the process in protest of al-Mahdi’s brief arrest last May.

Some Islamist parties like the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and RNM joined the process, hoping to convince the ruling party to make the needed concessions.

The RNM said that ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the government abandoned their obligations towards two documents endorsed by the assembly for National Dialogue on November 2nd namely “The Roadmap” and the |Addis Ababa Agreement”.

The statement also said that the government has reneged on its commitment to creating a conducive political climate and the inclusiveness of dialogue so that it brings together all political forces including rebels.

“There are no signs on the keenness of the NCP government or its seriousness in adhering to what it committed itself in this regard”.

The RNM also emphasised that the constitutional amendments were completed through improper procedures from a political and legal standpoint and through the internal NCP arrangements which lacks popular support and legal legitimacy making it “unrecognized”.

This month, Sudanese lawmakers approved three controversial constitutional amendments introduced by the NCP despite opposition disapproval.

The first bill allows the president to appoint governors who will no longer be elected through universal suffrage. The second transforms the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) into regular force to legitimize the creation of its militia the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Finally the third reform is the inclusion of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in the constitution.

The RNM said that elections in the way promoted by the government does not give it support nor legality.

Sudan’s general elections are set to be held in April 2015, but opposition parties are refusing to participate saying the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuses to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

They have proposed forming a transitional government and holding a national conference with the participation of rebel groups to discuss a peaceful solution for the conflicts in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states

The RNM said it is working with other political forces to oppose the elections through all legitimate and political means.

Bashir is running for a new presidential term despite asserting previously that he will not seek a new term. He received the backing of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani and other smaller parties.

Three others are running against Bashir including two women.

(ST)