Bashir calls on political forces to resume Sudan’s dialogue

July 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has called upon all political forces to rise above their differences and resume the societal and political dialogue in order to achieve the comprehensive national consensus.

In his address on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr, Bashir asked the Sudanese people to establish the value of forgiveness in order to maintain their unity, demanding them to adopt the slogan of “No for bloodshed, yes for dialogue”.

He congratulated the Sudanese people and the Muslim nation for the successful observance of the Ramadan fast and the coming of the blessed occasion of Eid al-Fitr, expressing hope that the Sudanese people would soon achieve peace and stop the bloodshed.

Bashir also expressed hope that Sudan would remain unified and monotheistic country, calling on all political forces to resume societal and political dialogue to achieve the comprehensive national consensus.

The Sudanese president launched the national dialogue initiative more than a year and a half 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 in wake of the government’s refusal to create suitable atmosphere in the country leading several major participants to pull out.

Sudanese government officials vowed to resume the dialogue process after the end of Ramadan and expressed willingness to meet with the opposition and rebel groups in a pre-dialogue meeting brokered by the African Union.

Meanwhile, Bashir on Friday received congratulations on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr from his two deputies, presidential assistants, speakers of the lower and upper champers of the parliament and the head of the constitutional court.

He also received congratulations from the army, security and police officers.

(ST)