Nimeiri arrives back in Khartoum following 14 years in exile

Former Sudanese President Jafar Nimeiri is expected to return to Khartoum on Saturday, following 14 years of exile in Egypt.

Spokesman for Nimeiri, Abdul Salaam al-Amin said that, "A private Sudanese plane of the Sudanese airlines will transport Nimeiri and his family and several of his Aides on Saturday to Sudan."

Earlier, the political advisor of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir; Abdul Baset Sabdrat visited Cairo one week ago in preparation for Nimeiri coming back to his country. Thence, Sabdrat said that Nimeiri (69) will be met in a way that fits a figure who assumed the post of the presidency and the general command of the Sudanese armed forces.

In May, Nimeiri's supporters won the consent to set up the party of the "Working People's Forces Alliance," following the adoption of the new law on party pluralism. The secretary general of the "Working People's Forces Alliance," Abu al-Qasem Hashem, said at the beginning of March that this party will be open to all those who seek to take part in establishing a democratic system in Sudan.

Nimeiri, however, who assumed power in Sudan on May 25, 1969 following a coup, was toppled by a popular uprising by Lt. Gen. Sewar al-Zahab.