Sudan opposition meeting starts today
Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 8/15/1998

The Sudanese government criticized Egypt in protest against the meeting of the Sudanese opposition factions in Cairo. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir denounced Egypt's hosting of the high-level Sudanese opposition leaders' meeting.

President al-Bashir was also quoted by state-run dailies as saying during a mass meeting in al-Abyad city in the central part of the country, "Those who are meeting in Cairo are isolated from the Sudanese people."

Meanwhile, the secretary of the political department at the national conference, Muhammad al-Hassan al-Amin, strongly criticized the warm reception Egypt has given to leaders of the opposition "Democratic National Alliance," which comprises opposition factions in the north and the south. He added that the meeting of the coalition in Egypt, which this time is attended by John Garang, leader of the southern Sudanese People's Liberation Army, is not a positive gesture in the relations between Egypt and Sudan, whatever the intention of the Egyptian government.

Al-Amin added that the meeting does not qualify Egypt to lead any initiative to settle the conflict in southern Sudan. Further reports say that during his meeting with leaders of the Democratic National Alliance on Wednesday in Cairo, President Mubarak called for maintaining the cease-fire in Sudan. He also stressed means of preserving Sudan's unity.

The leaders of the Democratic National Alliance praised Egypt's resolution, which allowed the Sudanese opposition to convene in Cairo at the headquarters of the ruling Egyptian National Party.

The Sudanese opposition will begin its meetings today, chaired by Garang, who said that the failure of the latest round of peace negotiations last week between the government and the SPLA will be one of the main topics on the agenda of today's meetings.

Garang will inform his northern allies -- who were excluded from the Sudanese peace negotiations sponsored by the IGAD organization -- about the developments in the last negotiations and about military and humanitarian developments in southern Sudan.

Meanwhile, Sudanese diplomatic sources said Thursday that the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for the Sudan, Tom Eric Vraalsen, held talks with Sudanese officials which concentrated on methods of treating the humanitarian crisis in south Sudan and guaranteeing that aid will reach the victims of the famine in southern Sudan, which was caused by the continued fighting between rebel factions and the government and lack of rain for crops.

The sources added that Vraalsen met Thursday with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael, the head of the south council Ryak Meshar and the minister of planning, Brigadier General El-Taib Ibrahim Mohamed Khair.

During his visit to Sudan, Vraalsen will be informed about the situation in Wau city in southern Sudan, in which the thousands that are flocking there face a death rate that reaches 60 persons daily, due to hunger and disease.

The French Minister Delegate to Cooperation and Francophony, Charles Josselin, confirmed his country's desire to expand the geographical reach and duration of the current cease-fire in south Sudan -- which creates a corridor through which humanitarian aid can be safely distributed -- in order to create more opportunities to guarantee that humanitarian aid will reach those threatened by famine.

At the conclusion of his visit to Sudan, Josselin arrived in Cairo to meet with the head of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, John Garang to discuss the expansion of the cease fire.

French sources in Cairo said that the French minister will meet with officials in Egyptian Foreign Ministry to tackle the outcomes of their talks with the Sudanese opposition.

Upon his arrival in Cairo, Josselin said that it was possible to press the two sides to achieving positive outcomes, and he did not exclude that Sudan will obtain additional aid within the context of political and constitutional developments that have taken place recently.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak stresses Sudan's unity as Sudan considers negotiations   (8/13/1998)
  Moussa to receive Garang on Thursday   (8/11/1998)
  Garang visits Cairo   (8/10/1998)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search