Bona Malwal to create a new southern political force

KHARTOUM, April 8, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The Democratic Forum on Peace (DFP) will initiate political activities inside Sudan and participate in implementation of the Comprehensive peace agreement, announced Secretary General of the Forum, Bona Malwal in statement to SUNA.

Malwal said he will shortly form a political party and will continue contacts with political forces which began with his meeting with president Omer Al-Bashir Thursday April 7.

The forum backs peace steps since peace is popular principle, he concluded.

This move come while another new alliance is formed since the end of last year between Lieutenant-General Joseph Lagu, a former vice-president of ex-Sudanese president Jaafer Numeiri, and the commander of South Sudan Defense Forces Major-General Paolino Matip.

Matip is a southerner whose SSDF broke way from SPLA in early 1990s and controls a sizeable fiefdom.

It seems that all these new southern political forces are expected to play opposition role to the SPLM in the south Sudan during the six years interim period. Bona Malwal and Joseph Lagu are considered by the Sudanese government as objective allies who may be used against John Garang if he does not agree to establish a political partnership with the ruling National Congress party.