Sudan’s DUP threatens to withdraw from the government
February 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s presidential aide and the de facto chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Mohamed al-Hassan al-Merghani has sought the ruling of his party leaders and sectors on whether to continue to join or pull out from the government.
Last week, al-Hassan, who is the son of the DUP leader, threatened to withdraw from the government, saying no real job has been assigned to him since assuming office last year.
Well-informed sources told Sudan Tribune that al-Hassan has distributed a questionnaire among party members in Khartoum, the various states and abroad to learn the predominant opinion towards the participation in the government.
According to the sources, the questionnaire, which was seen by Sudan Tribune, aims to assess the partnership in the government and measure the political readiness to respond to the outcome of the national dialogue in case it contradicts with the party view for the comprehensive national consensus.
The same sources stressed that large party sectors support the idea of using the survey as means to produce decisive policies with the participation of the party leaders and members.
“The party base hope to see true participation in the top decision making circles within the government or to withdraw and lead a fierce opposition”, says the sources.
In an interview with Al-Sudani daily last week, al-Hassan complained about his party’s participation in the government, saying he is unable to serve his country because the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) didn’t engage him in the major political files.
It is worth to mention that al-Hassan has orchestrated the party’s participation in the general elections of last April despite stiff opposition from senior DUP figures.
The decision of one of Sudan’s biggest opposition parties to join the government has created a great deal of internal dissent that saw many members quitting in protest.
The party received the post of a presidential assistant and three ministries in the federal cabinet and continues to serve under this allocation.
(ST)