Turabi bans PCP youth group hostile to Sudan dialogue process

March 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP), Hassan al-Turabi, has banned a political club formed by youth members because of its opposition to the party’s participation in the national dialogue process.

The Islamist party split from the ruling the National Congress Party (NCP) since 1999 and was strong in its opposition to the government during the past 13 years. However, Turabi’s stance towards Bashir’s regime gradually changed from backing Darfur rebel groups to a supporter of a negotiated settlement since January 2014 when the government launched the national dialogue initiative.

PCP members of the Opinion Owners club on Thursday released a statement saying that Turabi issued a decision prohibiting the activities of their group following criticism by a conservative wing within the Islamist party. They added the latter called to take punitive measures against the club because of their close relationship with the opposition parties.

“So the Secretary-General of the Popular Congress (Party) responded to these (calls) for (coercive) measures and issued a decision banning the activities of the Opinion Owners Club in a rare precedent in the history of the Islamic movement,” said the statement.

The PCP is the only opposition party that didn’t suspend its participation in the national dialogue and continues to plead the process.

The other opposition forces that initially accepted the internal political process have suspended their participation demanding to create a conducive environment and to free political prisoners. They also calls to postpone the general elections of next April.

Despite the government refusal to implement the dialogue requirements, Turabi continues to proclaim his adherence to the process saying a negotiated settlement is the only solution for the Sudanese crisis, pointing to the chaos created by the armed groups following the Arab Spring in the neighbouring countries

Observers in Khartoum point that some old figures in the PCP are nostalgic to the reunification of Islamists to build a strong Islamic state in Sudan. But the young generation, which grew up in the opposition refuses any rapprochement with the regime and expressed their frustration on this regard to the party leadership at different times.

Up to know, the PCP support only the national dialogue process but agree with the opposition forces in their calls for confidence building measures and the need to suspend the electoral process.

(ST)