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Sudan Tribune

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First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders

July 14, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese First Vice-President and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) held today separate talks with the leaders of the main opposition parties to explain the position of his party on their demand for a large national government.

Sudan First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayadrit (L) and leader of Umma Party talk to the press following their meeting in Khartoum on July 14, 2009 (SUNA)
Sudan First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayadrit (L) and leader of Umma Party talk to the press following their meeting in Khartoum on July 14, 2009 (SUNA)
Sudanese opposition parties had expressed their fears that the dominant party, the National Congress Party (NCP), could commit voter fraud in 2010 elections and requested the formation of a national government to conduct the first free election expected in February next year.

They also said the current government formed after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) had lost its legitimacy and it is unconstitutional since July 9th.

The SPLM supported the NCP rejection of the opposition demand after a meeting held between the Sudanese President and Salva Kiir before Bashir’s departure to Egypt last week.

Speaking to the media following his meeting with the Umma party leader Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Kiir reiterated the SPLM’s commitment to Sudan’s unity. He stressed that there will be no return to war and his party was working with the NCP and the other political parties to make unity an attractive option for southerners.

Al Mahdi said Kiir had explained why he considers the government to be legitimate. He noted that they understood and appreciated SPLM’s position toward the opposition.

Mahdi said they filed to the SPLM documents showing that they are seeking agreement with all political forces on attractive unity and its terms. He also stressed the need for an agreement of all the political forces on it because even if southerners decide to secede there is a need for fraternal coexistence, said the former prime minister.

The opposition parties and the SPLM had agreed before the difference over the legitimacy of the national unity government to hold a meeting in Juba to discuss common grounds during the upcoming general elections.

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani told reporters after his meeting with Kiir that they dealt with the importance of maintaining the unity of Sudan. He also recalled the Mirghani – Garang pact signed in November 1988, which endorsed the unity of the people and territory of Sudan. He stressed that this agreement was binding on the DUP and the SPLM, calling to strive for its implementation.

Kiir also met late today with Hassan Al-Turabi, the leader of the Popular Congress Party. Turabi said in press statements following the meeting that they discussed the situation in the disputed Abyei area and the verdict on the region, adding that Abyei is a vital channel between the North and the South.

He added that their talks touched on the upcoming elections and the need for more freedoms to allow the different political parties to disseminate their platforms.

Meanwhile, Mubarak Al-Fadil Al-Mahdi , the chairman of the Umma Reform and Renewal Party, said he had agreed with the views of the First Vice-President on the need for a deep dialogue with all political forces including the National Congress Party.

Mubarak, who is the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of Juba Conference of Sudanese political parties, added that Sudanese political forces are working to push southerners to vote for unity.

Kiir is also expected to meet with the Secretary General of the Sudanese Communist party.

In the absence of President Al-Bashir, who is in Egypt leading Sudan’s delegation to the meeting of the non-aligned movement, Salva Kiir assumes the presidency until Bashir’s return.

(ST)

16 Comments

  • Oduck Bol
    Oduck Bol

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    Dear Southerns:

    Salva or GOSS is for unity. This sham on man. How many people died in the war? after you build yourselves with money of blood of poor people. That is why you have no law in south,you looted $7 billion when there was no law then join Arab. you are going nowhere with blood of poor nations in your hands. Please do not decided for them. They are going to decid on what they want for themselves. You are realy idiot if you want to take people back to law of Islam. You for get our killer which is ISLAM and caltuer of Arab. God save poor nation from two dvils.

    Reply
  • Kur
    Kur

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    You guys claim separation of the South but do the opposite. Lam goes with the NCP, the party that is working hard to destroy Africans in Sudan. Leave SPLM alone they know what they are doing.

    Reply
  • Father Critic
    Father Critic

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    Well done ‘Wene’ Mayardit,a real man does not tell his secret to his enemies.As I told you the other day that a lion that moves silently is the one that eats meat.

    You have to be very careful when you are talking to them,though they are from the opposition party, they may decide to make suicide .You have already defeated them, so they are trying by all means to be friends to you.

    Let your yes always be no when you are talking to them please.

    Critic Ngueny from Bor town

    Reply
  • The Patriot
    The Patriot

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    This shows why a majority of Southern Sudanese people are stupid!!!

    THEY WERE CRYING WHEN LAM AKOL MET THE OPPOSITION AND CONDEMN HIM BUT REMAIN SILENT WHEN SALVA DOES IT!

    Some Southerners are like children. Politics is for intellectuals and adults. Stay on the farm and let those who are capable rule.

    Reply
  • Moses Kur Akech
    Moses Kur Akech

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    This is good move at this stage a true leader who cares about citizens’s rights and civil liberties should work jointly with other political parties in an attempt to create conducive atmosphere for citizens who choose politics as profession irrespective of their ethnic, political and religious backgrounds.

    Kiir as VP and a leader of the second largest Party is entitled to question the legitimacy of some of the regime’s actions against its political opponents. NCP opponents, people like Trabi etcetera have been for long victims of the country’s tyranny. However, this is the time for SPLA to utilise its bipartisanship with the regime to question some of the regime’s bureaucratic actions which repress cititens civil liberties in the Khartoum parliament. Kiir did the right thing and they need to do more to bring these political opponents to Khartoum parliament to actively participate as free citizens but not victims of intimidation.

    Reply
  • TUT MUT
    TUT MUT

    First Vice-President meets Sudanese opposition leaders
    Sunday july 19 2009. 8:04 By: Engineer Tut Mut

    Dear peoples of South Sudan, don’t worry about what our Vic-president say about unity, good leade most know how to bring peoples to his side. the sepration is upon the citizens of South Sudan, is not Dr. Salva kiir, have to decide your right weatheryou will be in unity or sepration.

    Dear my fellow peoples of South Sudan our political is to bring the international community his political system to our side that is we will bring down our foe, keep faith in GOD he will help you for your dicitions. Good job Vic-president keep it after 2011

    Reply
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