SCoP criticizes Sudanese opposition groups over boycott of Addis Ababa meeting
June 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) has bluntly criticized its allies in the National Consensus Forces (NCF) for rejecting participation in a recent opposition meeting in Addis Ababa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the SCoP political bureau said that they decided to participate in Addis Ababa meeting after thorough discussions between a number of Sudan Call forces leaders on the need to meet before a meeting between the National Umma party and three armed groups and the U.S. Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth.
“The four forces took the initiative to invite all its allies to meet before the meeting with the US envoy but some of the NCF components did not give this invitation the consideration it deserves, and didn’t deal with it responsibly”, the statement said.
“They kept manoeuvring and taking one step forward two steps back to miss out on the meeting, a matter that we in the Sudanese Congress Party and some other parties rejected”.
“Accordingly, we have decided to accept the invitation and participate in the meeting to discuss important issues”, it added.
The opposition party said it was hopeful to see the NCF united in the meeting pointing that “the complicated internal situation of the alliance towards the Sudan Call has divided it into two groups, one rejecting the establishment of a wider opposition front and another hesitating group that has no firm stances toward the Sudan call and changes their mind often,” the statement stated.
The NCF, which is an alliance of left parties, includes a number of groups that refuse any dialogue with the regime. The hardliners say they want the Sudan Call to disregard completely any negotiated solution and focus on the regime change through peaceful action.
During Paris meeting last April, NCF leaders expressed reservation over the adoption of structures, saying the Sudan Call only needs a coordination committee to lead the organisation of a popular uprising.
They further said the creation of an external structure means preparing the Sudan Call for negotiations with the government of President Omer al-Bashir.
The chief mediator Thabo Mbeki, didn’t seek to associate the NCF in his Roadmap Agreement but the National Umma Party, SPLM-North, JEM and SLM-MM say they cannot join the negotiating table without them.
The SCoP said Addis Ababa meeting discussed the slow implementation of the outcome of Paris meeting.
“The participants expressed deep concern about delay to establish the structures governing the daily activities to achieve the declared objectives,” the statement said.
According to the SCoP, the meeting decided to call for an urgent meeting for the 20-member leadership council of the Sudan Call forces to reach a radical solution for the obstacles that preventing the development of the alliance, and to establish a nucleus for a future executive body abroad to carry out urgent tasks.
(ST)