‘Sudan’s regime should accept Paris Declaration’: El Mahdi

The Sudanese regime has the choice to accept the Paris Declaration, with its road map for a national peace process and a comprehensive national dialogue, or to “follow the other path”, according to National Umma Party (NUP) leader El Sadig El Mahdi. In an interview with Radio Dabanga in Paris on Saturday, El Mahdi stressed that the regime in Khartoum now stands before the choice of accepting the opposition’s stances, or to continue “its destructive policies”.“The Paris Declaration affirms that the peace process can only succeed if the negotiations will be comprehensive, instead of separate talks for Darfur, and South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. Therefore the Sudanese government should accept the contents of the Declaration.” On Friday, the leader of the opposition NUP, and Malik Agar, the chairman of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF, an alliance of the main rebel movements) signed an accord, the Paris Declaration, in which they agreed on unifying the Sudanese opposition in order to end the conflicts in the country, and work on a democratic transformation. The NUP leader explained to Radio Dabanga that apart from comprehensive peace negotiations, “in which the SRF should definitely take part”, the Paris Declaration is clear about the democratisation process. “A national transitional government is to be formed, that would prepare and conduct general elections.” Political solution“If the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) accepts the Paris Declaration and its principles, we may reach balanced solutions to the crises in Sudan. If not, the ruling party will be responsible for the consequences.“We may have said this a thousand times before, but there has to be a political solution for all the crises in the country. The Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) could serve as an example. If a political solution would fail, we should be ready for a mass uprising.” El Mahdi denounced the ruling party’s refusal to acknowledge the SRF as partner in the peace negotiations. “This constitutes a real red line.”He commended in this regard the SRF leaders for their efforts. “They not only represent a new generation in the political arena, but also represent the Sudanese citizens who have made great sacrifices, and continue suffering until today. They will play a very large role in the development of Sudan.”El Mahdi continued by saying that the Paris Declaration constitutes a “huge wave”. “It could be a decisive wave, leading to positive change, or it could bring about more confrontations. We cannot predict the future. But I can say that the forces behind the Paris Declaration are formidable, having a solid unified view about the future of Sudan.” Zionists Regarding the rumours spread by the Sudanese media, “most of which is owned and directed by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS)”, saying that the NUP-SRF meeting in Paris was supported by “international Zionists”, El Mahdi laughed. “The press even stated that rebel forces of the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdel Wahid El Nur, are currently fighting with the Zionists in Gaza. These rumours only confirm the NCP’s political bankruptcy. “The Sudanese regime has to realise that the SRF reflects a new reality. Instead of betraying the Sudanese people with this nonsense about Zionism, etc. they should discuss how to deal with this new reality.” Hares and hounds He stressed that the NUP will not change its position again after El Mahdi’s return to Sudan, as has been rumoured in Khartoum. “I did not sign the Paris Declaration on personal grounds, but as a representative of the entire Umma Party.”  The rumours that the NUP leader is running with the hares and hunting with the hounds are fed by the fact that El Mahdi’s eldest son, Abdel Rahman El Sadig, is currently Assistant to the President, and another son works with the National intelligence and Security Service (NISS). “I personally have asked my son Abdel Rahman more than once to leave his position, as his function at the Presidential Palace has created a lot of confusion among the Umma Party members. But he refused. My son left the NUP on the day he accepted his function as presidential assistant. So he is not related to the party anymore. He does not represent the NUP, or its chairman.” Cairo The NUP leader said that he will not directly return to Khartoum from Paris. He will visit Egypt first. “This is not because I fear I will be arrested again, but because there is still much work to do. We have to enhance and broaden our regional and international contacts to lobby for support of the Paris Declaration. Cairo is a very good base for our campaign.“I am not afraid to be detained again, because my last detention has brought us a lot of credibility and political capital. Jailing me again will only isolate the ruling party more.” He stressed that the NUP has definitely left the National Dialogue, as proposed by President Al Bashir. “Any national dialogue in the future should be based on the contents of the Paris Declaration. That is what is new: The basic principles for any negotiations are now stipulated in the Declaration, which will be our compass in unifying of all Sudanese opposition forces.” “After the signing, we have immediately contacted all the political forces in Sudan, including the government. We told them that this historic opportunity should not be ignored, and requested them to seriously study the contents of the Declaration. Briefings and public relations are a waste of time. The next step will be a joint research with all the parties concerned on how to activate the statements in the Paris Declaration. In other words, how to activate the steps that will lead to a just and comprehensive peace and a democratic transformation.”El Sadig El Mahdi was detained by the NISS in the Kober prison in Khartoum between 17 May and 15 June. He was accused of undermining the constitution; a charge that could have led to the death penalty, after he had denounced the widespread attacks against civilians in Darfur and Kordofan by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by the NISS. News photo: NUP leader El Sadig El Mahdi is interviewed by the editor-in-chief of Radio Dabanga, Kamal El Sadig – Paris, 9 August 2014. Related:Sudan’s opposition welcomes, ruling party rejects Paris Declaration (11 August 2014)Sudan frees detained Umma Party leader El Mahdi (15 June 2014)