Sudan’s ruling party reiterates willingness for discussions with opposition parties
February 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said it was ready to engage with the opposition in any political process based on the legal frameworks of peaceful transfer of power, while the SPLM-N called to overthrow the regime saying suitable conditions have been created.
Recently, several Islamist groups that were part of the ruling party established a new coalition (Future Forces of Changes) and joint calls for a regime change in Sudan.
Reacting to these calls, NCP spokesperson Yasir Youssef said the refusal of opposition groups to join the national dialogue and raising slogans to overthrow the regime is not new. He further considered it as attempts to anticipate the announcement of the national dialogue results.
“Undoubtedly, the best is that all the forces work to reach a national political agreement based on the peaceful transfer of power through elections, and to agree on a system of governance among us as Sudanese. We need to build a cumulative political experience, so we do not have to start from scratch every time. This causes a waste of the country’s resources,” said Youssef.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the NCP political sector on Monday evening, he further expressed the willingness of his party to engage in any political process based on the constitution and law, and considers that the peaceful transfer of power and wealth as the guidelines for political action.
He pointed out that the national dialogue process laid down the foundations for this experience, which he described as “unique and good” that can be built upon.
RIGHT TIME FOR POPULAR UPRISING
In a related development; the Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Yasir Arman Monday said that conditions are ripe for a popular uprising.
“It is time to pounce, revolt and fight the génocidaire and totalitarian regime;” Arman said in written remakes he extended to Sudan Tribune.
Assessing the political situation in the country, the rebel leader said the “shadows of big issues are darkening the political sky”, adding that there is “a rare moment of synergy” between different factors.
Arman was pointing to the inflation, resumption of fighting in the Two Areas between the government troops and SPLM-N fighters, calls by Sudanese journalists for strike, and the recent wave of displacement in Darfur.
African mediators have called the Sudanese government, the National Umma Party, and three armed groups including the SPLM-N for a meeting within two weeks to discuss ways to engage in a process to end war and achieve democratic reforms.
During an informal meeting held in Germany last January, the government delegation refused a proposal by the SPLM-N to conclude the internal dialogue process and to engage in a new process with the holdout groups.
Youssef stressed that the National Congress Party is satisfied from the outcome of the first phase of the national dialogue conference and appreciates the work of its six committees.
He said the conference witnessed a consensus on big issues such as the agreement on the formation of a national unity government, amending legislative councils at the level of the centre and the states, and agreed to maintain the presidential regime as better suited to Sudan’s needs.
“This agreement came as a result of free debates within the committees’ meetings,” he added.
The governance issues committee on Sunday called to form a four-year national unity cabinet to implement the recommendations of the national dialogue.
During the upcoming period the National Dialogue General Assembly will discuss and endorse the conclusions of the different panels.
(ST)