Sudan’s ruling party declines to participate in pre-dialogue meeting
March 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said it will not participate in the national dialogue preparatory meeting with the opposition which was supposed to kick off on Sunday in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the African Union.
He added they refused the invitation due to time constraints, saying the AUHIP also has not mentioned names of those who will participate in the meeting from the opposition side and the civil society organisations.
Ismail described the preparatory meeting as a “trap”, saying it will not make any difference in the national dialogue process.
“We will not participate in it”, he said.
He pointed they submitted their reservations on the invitation to the AUHIP and demanded delay of the preparatory meeting.
The NCP official said the 7+7 committee is the body responsible for the arrangements pertaining to the dialogue not the NCP, pointing the invitation should have been extended to it.
“No-one in the government, NCP or the 7+7 committee will travel to Addis Ababa to attend the preparatory meeting,” he added.
The preparatory encounter was supposed to kick off on Sunday to discuss the confidence building measures and procedures related to the inclusive conference which should be held inside the country.
The opposition parties signatories of the Sudan Call declaration agreed in February to participate in the meeting but provided it should be held before April elections, hoping to get the postponement of the electoral process.
Ismail underscored the NCP will not participate in any preparatory meeting in Addis Ababa or elsewhere prior to the elections which will be held in April, saying national dialogue will start strongly after elections and will discuss major issues.
“Our stance is very clear, we will not get caught up by any meetings abroad and we will not go for any preparatory meeting or otherwise,” he said.
According to the invitation extended to all parties involved in the comprehensive political solution in Sudan and seen by Sudan Tribune, the
However, the opposition vowed to turn its back on peace talks with the government if it insists on holding elections in April.
REBEL ATTACKS
In another context, Ismail vehemently criticised the rebel alliance of the Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF), saying the government will not stay idle towards rebel attacks in South Kordofan and elsewhere.
“SRF lost direction and what it is doing [military attacks] is nothing but childish acts that would neither put pressure on the government to participate in the [preparatory meeting] in Addis Ababa nor will it sabotage elections,” he said.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has recently intensified military operations in South Kordofan.
Ismail accused leftist forces of seeking to disrupt elections, saying the security services revealed their plots which forced them to back down on it.
The NCP official further denied the electoral process is facing any threats.
(ST)