Mahdi: Signing of Road-map Agreement Will be Useless if Confidence-Building Measures are not Taken
15 August, 2016
KHARTOUM (Sudanow.info.sd)—National Umma Party (NUP) leader Sadek al-Mahdi discussed a number of issues in an interview to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa where he signed the road-map agreement that was brokered by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and previously signed by the Sudanese government and the AUHIP chairman Thabo Mbeki.
The interview ran as follows:
SUNA:- There is a demand by the Ansar Sect and the National Umma Party (NUP) for you to return home, now that you have signed the road-map agreement. What is your position in this connection?
Mahdi:- It is a legitimate demand, particularly as I have finished my mission abroad, not only in the context of closing the national rank and the Sudan Call but also in connection with the International Moderation Forum and the Madrid Forum. It will be a must for me and for the group of the Sudan Call to go back home upon reaching agreement of a ceasefire, relief aid, freedoms and public amnesty so that the home-back will affirm a transformation from one phase to another. I look forward to concluding agreement on those issues so that the door will be open for our return to signal a new phase in which the problems of the Sudan will be solved in the national dialogue framework.
Q:- In view of what you have said about your return and about your wish for agreement on a ceasefire and on the freedoms, how do you consider the prospects for achievement of peace and democratic transformation in Sudan?
A:- I believe that the present conditions are more opportune than ever for reaching a just, comprehensive peace and a democratic transformation acceptable to all people in the framework of a transitional government and a new national constitution agreed upon by all people of the Sudan.
Q:- The NUP has previously proposed a pacific solution to the Sudanese crisis similar to what has occurred in South Africa. Bearing in mind the new developments of the national dialogue and the signing of the road-map agreement, to what extent do you think this proposal will succeed, at least partially?
A:-I consider the South African experience is the best model for reaching a settlement. There are other models in Spain, Chile and Poland which can be of benefit, though I think the chances for the Sudan are better. The entire region around us faces acute and destructive confrontations and if it succeeds, the Sudan model will be exemplary for the countries of the region to resolve their problems. It will even be a model to be followed by all countries of the world which are suffering from civil wars or armed conflicts amongst them.
Q:-You have exerted, along with the international community, tremendous efforts for persuading the armed movements into signing the road-map agreement. How do you view the role to be played by the international community towards the Sudanese crisis?
A:- The international community is much concerned with reaching solutions to the issues of peace and good governance in our countries because it has become clear to them that our disputes could lead to civil wars and confrontations for which they would pay in forms of illegal migration and terrorism. They were now convinced that the flames of war in our countries would cross the borders into their own countries and therefore they have become concerned with a stable rule as an instability could lead to illegal migration and terrorism that would transform their countries into hell. They in the international community consider what happens in our countries not only as humanitarian operations but also as a threat to their national security. Therefore they realized the importance of assisting the rulers to control the problems of displacement, refuge and terrorism and then they realized that only dealing with the rulers at the expense of the peoples is inadequate and we told them that such a dealing must be linked to achieving the goals of peace, good governance and democracy and they promised to take this into consideration. We also advised them that there are some issues such as the foreign debts and sanctions which could be resolved amicably. They also promised to take into account this issue which they said would be backed by the public opinion.
Q:- Sir, what message do you have for the negotiators on Darfur and the Two Areas?
A:-The signing of the road-map agreement will be useless if confidence-building measures are not taken. Those steps include agreements on a ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the needy people. If they fail to agree on those issues, they will be placing an obstacle before the dialogue which cannot be held in absence of a ceasefire.
Q:-What is your appeal to them?
A:-My appeal is that there will not be any talk about a road-map if a ceasefire agreement is not concluded.
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MAS/AS
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