Bashir to meet with political leaders to discuss start of national dialogue

July 27, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – An official in Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said on Monday that president Omer al-Bashir will hold a meeting with political party leaders next week to schedule the opening session of the national dialogue.

The head of the NCP political sector Mustafa Osman Ismail told reporters that his party did not seek to postpone the dialogue but that the debate took place within the dialogue’s 7 +7 mechanism on the date change.

Ismail added that a decision has not yet been made and said that this will be settled after submitting the dispute to the Supreme Coordinating Committee which will make the final decision after its meeting with Bashir next week.

Some 7 +7 members told Sudan Tribune last week that they plan to ask Bashir for rescheduling dialogue till next October to give more time to committees for further preparation and contact non-participants.

The Popular Congress Party (PCP) official Kamal Omer Abdel Salam told Sudan Tribune that his party categorically rejects any postponement as some 7+7 members demanded.

Ismail met at the NCP headquarters with a German delegation which conveyed to him their intention to work on convincing non-participants to join national dialogue and make it a success.

He expressed NCP support for these efforts and its commitment to the success of the dialogue and to ensure participation of most forces.

(ST)