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Assistant of Sudan President: The Country Rejects Two Armies on its Soil | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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An internally displaced woman smiles at her child while making a beaded necklace in the mental health section of the hospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) inside the camp for IDPs in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Malakal, Upper Nile State May 29, 2014. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu


Khartoum- Assistant of the President of Sudan and Deputy Chairman of the National Congress for the Party’s Affairs, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid expressed the government’s willingness to be in charge of the peace requirements; yet he denounced the opposition parties and movements’ stance from signing the road map, which was suggested by the African Union High Implementation Panel.

Hamid said during an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that the world views any party that prefers violent over peaceful solutions as terrorist.

“Of no value”, was the description he made to leader of Sudan’s Islamist pivot, late Hassan al-Turabi, accusations of Sudan’s First Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and Nafe’ Ali Nafe’, Senior Advisor to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, of attempting to assassinate Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa.

When asked about his point of view towards the Sudan Call Forces meeting in Paris, Hamid said that the case is crystal clear now and does not need holding as much meetings. “Three meetings took place in Paris this year. It is time to put an end for the citizens’ sufferings in the south and north of Sudan; there is no justification for all these negotiations and meetings”, he added.

“The road map tackles solving any conflict in peaceful ways and discussing any national topic in the national dialogue” Hamid continued.

“What was the message meant to be delivered by the U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth in his last visit to Sudan?” asked Asharq Al-Awsat, and the answer was as follows, “The purpose of the U.S. special envoy visit was
to be informed of the final stances of the government and its’ approach towards peace, stability and the road map.

Work will commence in the National Dialogue Conference that sees attendance of all political parties willing to contribute in making decisions; the second phase is the preparation of a permanent constitution”.

Hamid expressed readiness to discuss how parties wish to participate in the national dialogue but also stressed that the government will not wait forever at the expense of the Sudanese people interests.

Asharq Al-Awsat inquired about the recent flexibility in the government’s stance, president’s assistant said that the government offered all the required clarifications, signed the road map agreement, expressed willingness to abide by it and insisted that the national dialogue consist of all the Sudanese parties.

“Yet, other parties don’t seem prepared to take the clear road of peace and national dialogue’, he said.

Speaking on the government’s readiness to make concessions for the sake of dialogue and peace, Hamid said that there are certain issues they are not open to negotiate; the government cannot accept having two armies in the country; and it will not approve any political party having an army.

“In August 2014, I proposed the road map to be discussed and the opposition parties approved it; then what are the demands for a preparatory meeting for? They asked for cease-fire and they had what they wanted; not to mention releasing arrestees”, he added.

“How does the current tension in South Sudan affect the Sudanese negotiations?” asked the reporter. Hakim answered that, “Sudan People’s Liberation Movement is an integral part of Sudan Liberation Army.

I see that the conflicts in the south should motivate the north to move forward towards stability and peace. I am certain that political targets can’t be achieved by violence. The Liberation Movement, established in 1983, should have known by now that its’ political purposes cannot be reached by the weapons, especially following its unsuccessful attempt in South Sudan”.

When asked about if he considers Sudan passing through an economic, political and security crisis, president assistant said that there is an opposition in every country but the government pursues uniting the majority of political forces because this is the essence of democracy.

“However, if some groups insist on refusing peace then regulatory and legislative procedures will be taken. Any party that chooses weapons over political practice is viewed as a terrorist,” Hamid added.

Asharq Al-Awsat questioned, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that during his last visit to Africa he passed through the Sudanese skies, was he permitted to?”

Hamid denied having any clue about this, stressing that Sudan’s enmity with Israel is to back the Palestinian people rights. “But you negotiate with U.S. why not negotiate with Israel too?” asked the newspaper. “U.S. and Israel are not the same. U.S. is not occupying a nation’s land”, replied Hamid.