A prominent member of Sudan’s dominant National Congress Party (NCP) told VOA the NCP is not opposed to seeing Salva Kiir, president of semi-autonomous southern Sudan, become first vice president in a unity government.
Rabie Abdulatti Obeid also said the NCP is committed to working alongside the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to fully implement the remaining provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
“There is no other option but for the NCP or SPLM [not] to be far from each other for the rest of the period, which will complete the interim period as agreed upon in the CPA and as agreed in the constitution. And, the implementation of the bending points of the CPA cannot be unless there is partnership between the National Congress Party and the SPLM,” he said.
This comes after local media reported that Mr. Kiir will soon hold negotiations with President Bashir over the formation of a unity government. It will be tasked with preparing the country ahead of the 2011 referendum which will give residents in southern Sudan the opportunity to decide whether to be part of Sudan, or secede.
Salva Kiir (l) and Presiunt Bashir (r) file
NCP official Obeid said unity of purpose with the SPLM will help resolve problems the country faces.
“This is yet a partnership from the SPLM and the National Congress Party to confront the coming challenges and to work together to for the coming referendum, and also to work together to make unity attractive. And, this unity is an item clearly mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” Obeid said.
In Sudan’s recent elections, the National Electoral Commission declared Mr. Bashir winner of the presidential election with over 60 percent of the votes, while Salva Kiir won the presidential election in the semi-autonomous southern Sudan with over 90 percent of the vote.
As stipulated in the peace accord, both men are scheduled to work closely to fully implement the rest of the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Obeid said the NCP will not oppose Mr. Kiir from becoming Sudan’s first vice president.
“If this partnership [is] agreed upon, I don’t think that there is any objection from the National Congress Party Salva Kiir Mayardit as first vice president, and to give them the same percentage of the same power and ministries in the north as before. And, I think it will be very easy for the National Congress Party to work with the SPLM, even more than what happened during the period to the election,” Obeid said.
The CPA effectively ended over two decades of civil war in Sudan.