Darfur rebels reject NCP ‘guarantees’ for dialogue

Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) is considering granting the rebel movements guarantees to give their opinion during a collective meeting, the party’s political secretary reported during a news conference in Nyala, South Darfur. “They will have the option to leave, should they not agree,” the party’s political secretary Mustafa Osman Ismail said. Minni Minawi, deputy president of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), told Radio Dabanga that “the NCP has not convinced any of the rebel movements so far to be a part of its initiative for a national dialogue, announced by President Omar Al Bashir. It has not followed a concrete action or taken any serious step to convince Sudanese society or the international community to be a part of it.” The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) further described Mustafa Ismail’s call to the movements as “meaningless” and indicates “the NCP’s lack of seriousness”. He confirmed that the rebel movements will not go to Khartoum for these reasons. Minawi added that the alliance of opposition forces has provided a clear road map and vision to realise a comprehensive solution for Sudan. “It would begin with the creation of an environment for political dialogue, a ceasefire, and then the resolving of humanitarian issues, by putting protocols in place for engagement in the political issues.” File photo: Mustafa Osman Ismail, political secretary of the National Congress Party, and former minister of Foreign Affairs (Sudan Vision) Related: Khartoum delegation to negotiate with Darfur Janjaweed leader (17 March 2014) Al Bashir speech disappoints Sudanese (28 January 2014)