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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Sudan lifts ban on (some) political parties... |
| 2002-08-11 |
| President Omar el-Bashir on Saturday lifted a ban on political parties he had imposed since coming to power in a 1989 coup, but made no mention of reinstating Sudan's multiparty parliament. One thing at a time, okay? In a decree carried by the official Sudan News Agency, el-Bashir set conditions under which political parties can apply for license. Only the parties that were represented in parliament before the 1989 coup can apply, under condition they renounce use of force and commit to "peaceful transition of power." To be officially recognized, parties must be represented from within Sudan and abide by the country's laws and the constitution — something that excludes the main rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which has been fighting a 19-year civil war for more autonomy for the south of the country. Something will be worked out there, too... The main opposition parties, former Prime Minister Sadeq el-Mahdi's Umma party and the Democratic Unionist Party of Mohamed Osman Mirgahni, both of which were represented in the parliament el-Bashir dissolved in 1999, have refused to register, saying the conditions were unacceptable. They'll eventually come around. I think Sudan wants to be rich, not the Vanguard of Islamism. The only way they can do that is to get some stability. I don't think they're Soddy puppets, at least not anymore. Maybe having Binny as a houseguest cured them of that. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |