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Bashir to Involve Opposition in New Cabinet

   Peter Clottey 02 May 2010
   Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in full military dress, greets army
   officers  as as he visits the military hospital, in Khartoum, 22 April
   2010

Photo: AP

   Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, in full military dress, greets army
   officers  as  as  he visits the military hospital, in Khartoum, Sudan,
   Thursday April 22, 2010.

   A  prominent  member of Sudanās dominant National Congress Party (NCP)
   says President Omar Hassan al-Bashir will only name opponents into his
   new  cabinet if the opposition agrees to implement the programs of the
   ruling party.

   Rabie  Abdulatti Obeid said President Bashirās yet-to-be named cabinet
   will  ensure  the full implementation of the rest of the provisions of
   the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

   āThe  broad-based government that the National Congress Party will not
   govern  the  country  or  rule  the  country for the coming four years
   individually (or) alone, but seeking that other political parties they
   can  take  part  and  participate in this government on condition that
   these  political  parties  should  agree  to  implement the program of
   National Congress Party,ā he said.

   President  Bashir has often stated that he is willing to dialogue with
   all  parties in his new cabinet, including those who boycotted Sudanās
   general elections.

   Obeid  said  the NCP is willing to work with other parties to preserve
   Sudanās unity.

   āThe program mainly is targeting the unity of south and north and also
   the  contribution  of  the  peace  process between the armed forces in
   Darfur  and  the government.Ā  And, also, the program is targeting the
   continuation  of  the  economic  (al)  development  of the country and
   establishment  of  a  balanced relation with neighboring countries and
   the international community,ā Obeid said.

   In  his inaugural address after winning Sudanās presidential election,
   Mr.  Bashir  said  he  is  committed to working closely with the Sudan
   Peopleās  Liberation  Movement  (SPLM)  in  implementing the remaining
   benchmarks of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

   The  SPLM  congratulated  Mr.  Bashir for winning Sudanās presidential
   election and urged him to ensure that the next government must work at
   implementing the remaining CPA provisions.

   The  SPLM  has  often criticized President Bashirās NCP of lacking the
   political  will to fully implement the CPA - a charge the ruling party
   denies.

   Obeid said the NCP will work with the SPLM to help all Sudanese.

   āWe  donāt want to exclude any of the political parties.Ā  If there is
   any  possibility  to  form  a  government including the SPLM, National
   Congress  Party,  (and)  other  political  parties  and  they have one
   program  to agree upon, it will be better for the country, and this is
   in  the  light  of  the  challenges, on top of these challenges is the
   referendum which would be carried out the beginning of the year 2011,ā
   Obeid said.

   Meanwhile,   NCP   officials  have  been  quoted  as  saying  southern
   representation  in  the  next  federal government is necessary for the
   referendum to be conducted on schedule.

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