Doha peace could give VP slot to Darfuri NCP figure, not rebel

The Government of Sudan stated that it would not necessarily grant the position of the Vice-President of the Republic to any members of the Darfuri armed factions which are expected to sign the peace agreement in Doha. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Dr. Amin Hassan Omar, the lead negotiator in the government delegation and a top National Congress Party figure, said that it would be difficult to grant the position to a rebel. Under the terms of the proposed peace deal the position would have to go to a Darfuri, albeit not necessarily a rebel leader. Dr. Hassan Omar would not state whether the government intends of give the post to a Darfuri members of the National Congress Party (NCP), but he noted that the appointment of a factional leader was not a requirement and that what matters is that a Darfuri should take the post of the vice-president to tend to the welfare of Darfur.

He underlined that the appointment is strictly the right of the president, Omar Hassan Al Bashir, and no one has the right to determine the president’s deputy besides the president himself.

Sudan currently has two vice-presidents, the Northerner Ali Osman Taha, and the Southerner Salva Kiir Mayardit. The latter is due to vacate his position in July, when he will become head of the newly sovereign Southern Sudan.